如何传扬三天使信息
作者魏泰德牧师，博士，基督复临安息日会全球总会会长，现居美国马里兰州银泉市
自复临运动起，启示录14章6-12节所记载的三天使信息就成为了基督复临安息日会宣讲的核心。
第一位天使的信息为整个世界带来了“永远的福音”——呼召人们当敬拜创造主，宣告祂施行审判的时候已经到了。在第一位天使的信息的基础上，第二位天使的信息宣告巴比伦——一个拒绝第一位天使信息、受撒但的蛊惑与世界联合的错误的敬拜体系——倾倒了。第三位天使的信息揭示了兽印与上帝之印真安息日的区别，呼吁人们不要受兽的印记。
复临信徒对三天使信息的内容如数家珍，但除了在公共布道会上的讲论外，他们多久传讲一次呢？
“这些天使被描绘为飞在空中，向世人传扬警告的信息，且与活在世界历史末后日子的人有直接的关系。”怀爱伦写道。“没有人听见这些天使的声音，因为他们是一个象征，代表正在与天上的世界和谐同工的上帝的子民。受上帝之灵启迪并藉真理成圣的男男女女，按着次序传扬这三道信息。” 1（
显然，我们蒙召传扬三天使信息，但我们如何用属天的方式来传讲呢？以下四个实用的要点我们可以借鉴。
- 真心相信这信息并让其改变我们的内心
我们无法确切地表达一个我们自己心存怀疑的信息。现在是时候让我们仔细研究三天使信息并深刻了解其真实的含义了。但仅有知识是不够的，这些信息必须根植于心。
“仇敌会发动万事要根除信徒的信心，使他们不相信我们过去信息中的信仰的柱石，那些信息已使我们置身于永恒真理的高台上，也建立了圣工并使它有了特色。耶和华以色列的上帝已带出祂的子民，向他们展开了来自天上的真理。我们已听到祂的声音，而且仍在听到祂说：要前进，力上加力，恩上加恩，荣上加荣。工作正在加强加宽，因为耶和华以色列的上帝是祂子民的保障。”怀爱伦写道：“那些只在理论上持有真理的人，可以说是蜻蜓点水，他们没有使真理的原则进入心灵的至圣所，而只将至关重要的真理留在外院，所以不会看出这班子民过去的历史中有什么神圣的事，这班人的历史造就了他们目前的状态，也使他们在世上成了恳切坚决的传道工人。当代的真理是宝贵的，但是那些其心没有在磐石基督耶稣上跌碎的人，不会看到和明白何为真理。”
让我们相信上帝的话语并让这话语来再造我们的内心吧！
- 让上帝的灵来浇灌我们，使我们像耶稣一样深爱众人
上帝的爱渗透在整本《圣经》中。“上帝就是爱；住在爱里面的，就是住在上帝里面，上帝也住在他里面。”（约一4:16）“上帝既是这样爱我们，我们也当彼此相爱。”（约一4:11）
在路加福音第十章，我们看到上帝的爱体现在实际生活和属灵两个层面。当被问道，“谁是我的邻舍呢？”（29节），耶稣用好撒玛利亚人的比喻来回答道，那个好撒玛利亚人就是愿意用切实的行动来同情和怜悯这位受伤之人的。
后来，我们得耶稣在马利亚、马大和拉撒路的家中的时候，马大为马利亚不给她实际的帮助而感到懊恼。反而，马利亚一直在听耶稣讲话，耶稣在称赞马利亚的时候用柔和的话语责备马大说：“马利亚已经选择那上好的福分，是不能夺去的。”（第40节）
我们务要尽己所能地帮助缓解伤痛和苦楚，为人提供“那上好的不能夺去的福分，”是多么得重要。基督的话语是祂给全人类最深沉的爱，是应该被传扬的，特别是藉着那同一圣灵所传的三天使信息。
- 基于《圣经》的方法来分享完整的信息
在哥林多前书9:22，保罗讲道：“向什么样的人，我就作什么样的人，总要救些人。”同样地，上帝也赐福给我们各样传福音的机会——甚至是在新冠肺炎疫情期间。当传统的布道形式暂停时，通过电话、社交媒体，以及小组线上聚会、电视、广播等形式，福音仍在持续传播
由于健康危机愈发严峻，全面健康事工的重要性也日益凸显。成千上万的人正在寻求使身心灵的健康得到改善或保持的方法。我们可以将上帝所赐的许多有关身体的、心灵的、属灵的健康的信息分享出来。这也是一个让人们有机会深入了解真理的契机。
通过印刷品或在线阅读等文字形式布道，也是传扬三天使信息的重要途径，尤其是2022年的传道书刊《最后的希望：给焦虑世界的三个信息》与《善恶之争》。我呼召你在主的带领下以任何可能的方式去分享这些属天的信息。
另外，当我们思考如何去向人传道，我们通常会联想到《服务真诠》所写“唯有基督的方法”。尽管这是一种极好的方式，但我们务要铭记这著名论述完整的上下文。
“我们生活在罪病流行的时代。凡是肯深思而又敬畏上帝的人，莫不为之胆战心惊。世上盛行的腐败之风；实非人笔墨所能形容。政治方面的争竞，贿赂，欺诈，日新月异；违法，暴力，对人类的痛苦漠不关心，无情无义，残害人命，这种种痛心的记录日有所闻。还有谋财害命，自杀，以及疯狂的事，更是日益增加。撒但的使者在人间的活动越演越烈，要扰乱和败坏人的心智，污染和摧毁人的身体，这一点还有什么可疑呢？”
“世上充满了这些罪恶，福音却往往以冷漠的方式传扬，以致在人的良心和生活中没有留下什么印象。到处都有人渴望一种他们所没有的事物。他们希望得到战胜罪恶的能力，使他们能脱离罪的捆绑，希望得到那能带来健康、平安和生命的能力。许多曾经认识上帝之道能力的人，住到了不认识上帝的地方，他们渴望上帝的临格。”
“两千年以前世界的需要，就是今日世界的需要，那就是基督的显现。如今需要一场伟大的改革运动。只有靠着基督的恩典，才能完成恢复人灵力、智力和体力的工作。”
“只有基督的方法，才能真正成功地感动人。救主与人相处，为他们谋利益。祂对人表同情，服侍他们的需要，博得他们的信任，然后吩咐他们‘来跟从我’。”
我们蒙召倚靠上帝爱的力量，向他人传扬启示录14章的末日信息，并邀请他们来跟从耶稣。
4．创造一个互相支撑、信心坚定的环境
“就特别的意义而言，基督复临安息日会的人被安置在世上，乃是作守望者和擎光者。那给将亡之世界的最后警告，已经托付了他们。从圣经中有奇妙的光照在他们的身上。那所托付他们的乃是传扬第一，第二，和第三位天使的信息──这是一种极其严重的工作，是再重要也没有的。所以他们不可让任何其他事物吸引他们的注意。”6
教会领袖和牧师们创造一种互相支撑、信心坚定的属灵环境是多么重要，更有助于教会全体信徒分享三天使的重要信息！这环境可以通过示范和教导、讨论会和工作坊等方式来建立。发挥您的创造力，设法营造一种鼓励全体成员传讲三天使信息氛围吧！
传讲真理
朋友们，上帝正在改变那些听到这奇妙信息者的内心。圣灵运行在每一个需要作出决定跟随基督之人的心里。我们为主奉差遣向人传讲福音是何等的特权。
只要单单坚定地信靠耶稣和圣灵的能力，我们就必能成就万事。上帝正在预备我们做特别的工作——晚雨圣灵的沛降。让耶稣的复临和祂的三天使信息被世界各地的复临信徒传扬，因为主必快来！
———
- 1. 怀爱伦自传（加州山景出版社，1915），429页
- 同上，430，431页
4. 克利福德·戈尔茨坦：最后的希望：致焦虑世界的三个信息》（太平洋出版社，2021）
5. 怀爱伦《服务真诠》（亚太出版社，1905），142,143页
- 6. 怀爱伦，《教会证言卷九》（亚太出版社，1948），19
Practical Aspects of the Proclamation of the Three Angels’ Messages
By Ted N. C. Wilson, PhD, president of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, Silver Spring, Maryland, United States.
The three angels’ messages (Rev. 14:6–12) have been at the heart of the Seventh-day Adventist Church since the movement began.
The first angel’s message brings the “everlasting gospel” to the entire world—a call to worship God as Creator and an announcement of the hour of His judgment. The second builds upon the first, proclaiming that Babylon—a false system of worship that rejects the proclamation of the first angel, accepts the delusions of Satan, and unites with the world—is fallen. The third angel’s message brings to light the mark of the beast in contrast to God’s true Sabbath as the seal of God, urging people not to receive the mark.
Seventh-day Adventists are familiar with the content of these messages, but how often are they proclaimed, other than in public evangelistic meetings?
“The angels are represented as flying in the midst of heaven, proclaiming to the world a message of warning, and having a direct bearing upon the people living in the last days of this earth’s history,” wrote Ellen White. “No one hears the voice of these angels, for they are a symbol to represent the people of God who are working in harmony with the universe of heaven. Men and women, enlightened by the Spirit of God, and sanctified through the truth, proclaim the three messages in their order.”1（）
Clearly, we are called to proclaim these life-saving messages, but how do we do so in an angelic way? Here are four practical aspects to keep in mind:
- BELIEVE THE MESSAGES PERSONALLY AND ALLOW THEM TO TRANSFORM OUR HEARTS
We cannot authentically present a message as true if we are in doubt. Now is the time to carefully study the three angels’ messages and let their meaning sink in deeply. But head knowledge is not enough; these messages must penetrate the heart.
“The enemy will set everything in operation to uproot the confidence of the believers in the pillars of our faith in the messages of the past, which have placed us upon the elevated platform of eternal truth, and which have established and given character to the work,” wrote Ellen White. “Those who have a hold of the truth theoretically, with their finger tips as it were, who have not brought its principles into the inner sanctuary of the soul, but have kept the vital truth in the outer court, will see nothing sacred in the past history of this people, which has made them what they are, and has established them as earnest, determined missionary workers in the world. The truth for this time is precious; but those whose hearts have not been broken by falling on the rock Christ Jesus, will not see and understand what is truth.”
Let’s believe God’s Word and allow it to do a work of reformation in our own hearts.
- ALLOW GOD’S SPIRIT TO FILL US WITH A DEEP, CHRISTLIKE LOVE FOR EVERYONE
The theme of God’s love permeates the Bible. “God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him” (1 John 4:16).3 “Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another” (v. 11).
In Luke 10, we see God’s love illustrated in both practical and spiritual ways. When asked, “ ‘Who is my neighbor?’ ” (v. 29), Christ responded with the story of the good Samaritan, who went out of his way to compassionately care for the wounded man’s needs in a very practical way.
Later, we find Jesus at the home of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. Martha is annoyed because Mary is not helping with the practical aspects of entertaining. Instead, Mary is listening to Jesus, who then gently reproves Martha while commending Mary, who has “ ‘chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her’ ” (v. 40)
While we must do what we can to relieve pain and suffering, how important to provide “ ‘that good part, which will not be taken away.’ ” These words of Christ were given from a deep love for all humanity and, as such, should be shared—particularly through the three angels’ messages—in that same spirit.
- USE BIBLICALLY BASED METHODS TO SHARE THE COMPLETE MESSAGE
In 1 Corinthians 9:22, Paul declares, “I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.” Along the same lines, God has blessed us with multiple ways of reaching people—even during COVID-19. While traditional public evangelism efforts were put on hold, hundreds of thousands of lives were touched through online evangelism, telephone evangelism, social media, and small online groups, as well as through television, radio, and more—efforts that are continuing.
Comprehensive health ministry has become increasingly important as health crises have come to the forefront. Thousands are looking for ways to improve and maintain good health—physically, mentally, and spiritually—and we have so much to offer through our God-given health message. This can be an entering wedge that leads people to deeper truths.
Reaching people through literature—print and online—is a very important method of spreading the three angels’ messages, especially with the 2022 Missionary Book of the Year, The Final Hope: Three Messages for an Anxious World,4 and The Great Controversy. I urge you to share these heavenly messages in every way possible, as the Lord leads.
Also, when considering how to reach people, we often refer to “Christ’s method alone,” as described in The Ministry of Healing. While this is certainly a divine method, it is important to keep in mind the full context of that well-known statement:
“We are living in the midst of an ‘epidemic of crime,’ at which thoughtful, God-fearing men everywhere stand aghast. . . . Who can doubt that satanic agencies are at work among men with increasing activity to distract and corrupt the mind, and defile and destroy the body?
“And while the world is filled with these evils, the gospel is too often presented in so indifferent a manner as to make but little impression upon the consciences or the lives of men. Everywhere there are hearts crying out for something which they have not. They long for a power that will give them mastery over sin, a power that will deliver them from the bondage of evil, a power that will give health and life and peace. Many who once knew the power of God’s word have dwelt where there is no recognition of God, and they long for the divine presence.
“The world needs today what it needed nineteen hundred years ago—a revelation of Christ. A great work of reform is demanded, and it is only through the grace of Christ that the work of restoration, physical, mental, and spiritual, can be accomplished.
“Christ’s method alone will give true success in reaching the people. The Saviour mingled with men as one who desired their good. He showed His sympathy for them, ministered to their needs, and won their confidence. Then He bade them, ‘Follow Me.’ ”
We are called to come close to people and, through the power of God’s love, to share the last-day messages of Revelation 14, inviting them to follow Jesus.
- CREATE A SUPPORTIVE, FAITH-AFFIRMING ATMOSPHERE
“In a special sense Seventh-day Adventists have been set in the world as watchmen and light bearers. To them has been entrusted the last warning for a perishing world. On them is shining wonderful light from the word of God. They have been given a work of the most solemn import—the proclamation of the first, second, and third angels’ messages.
There is no other work of so great importance. They are to allow nothing else to absorb their attention.”6
How important it is, then, for pastors and leaders to create a supportive, faith-affirming atmosphere, where all members are encouraged to become disciples and share these important messages. This can be done through modeling and mentoring, through classes and workshops, and much more. Use your creativity in finding ways to promote an atmosphere encouraging total member involvement in the proclamation of the three angels’ messages!
PROCLAIM THE TRUTH
Friends, God is changing the hearts of those who hear these marvelous messages. The Holy Spirit moves on the minds of individuals who need to make a decision for Christ, and what a privilege is ours to be used as God’s instruments to reach others for Him.
Only by relying completely on Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit will we be able to accomplish anything. God is now preparing us for something very unusual—the outpouring of the latter rain of the Holy Spirit. Let the second coming of Christ and His three angels’ messages be proclaimed by every Seventh-day Adventist around the world because Jesus is coming soon!
———
- 1. Ellen G. White, Life Sketches of Ellen G. White (Mountain View, CA: Pacific Press Pub. Assn., 1915), 429; emphasis added.
3．Scripture is from the New King James Version.
4. Clifford Goldstein, The Final Hope: Three Messages for an Anxious World (Nampa, ID: Pacific Press Pub. Assn., 2021).
5.Ellen G. White, The Ministry of Healing (Mountain View, CA: Pacific Press Pub. Assn., 1905), 142, 143.
6.Ellen G. White, Testimonies for the Church, vol. 9 (Mountain View, CA: Pacific Press Pub. Assn., 1948), 19.
原文链接：https://www.ministrymagazine.org/archive/2021/10/Practical-aspects-of-the-proclamation-of-the-three-angels-messages
现代真理 