Life99.圣言的许多地方论述了与邪恶的争战，这些争战就是试探。它们由主的这些话来表示：
我告诉你们，一粒麦子不落在地里死了，仍旧是单独的；若是死了，就结出许多果实来。（约翰福音12:24）
也由这些话来表示：
若有人要跟从我，就当舍己，背起他的十字架来跟从我。因为，凡要救自己生命的，必丧掉生命；凡为我和福音丧掉生命的，必救了生命。（马可福音8:34-35）
“十字架”表示试探（在马太福音10:38；16:24；马可福音10:21；路加福音14:27也是）；“生命”表示人之自我的生命（在马太福音10:39；16:25；路加福音9:24；尤其在约翰福音12:25也是），这生命也是“无益肉体的生命”（约翰福音6:63）。论到与邪恶的争战，以及对它们的胜利，主在启示录中对所有教会说：
以弗所教会：得胜的，我必将神乐园中间的生命树赐给他吃。（启示录2:7）
士每拿教会：得胜的，必不受第二次死的害。（启示录2:11）
别迦摩教会：得胜的，我必将那隐藏的吗哪赐给他吃，并赐他一块白石，石上写着新名，除了那领受的以外，没有人能认识。（启示录2:17）
推雅推喇教会：那得胜又遵守我命令到底的，我要赐给他权柄制伏列族，又要把晨星赐给他。（启示录2:26，28）
撒狄教会：凡得胜的，必这样穿白衣，我也必不从生命册上涂抹他的名，且要在我父面前和我父众天使面前认他的名。（启示录3:5）
非拉铁非教会：得胜的，我要叫他在我神殿中作柱子，又要将我神的名和我神城的名，就是从天上、从我神那里降下来的新耶路撒冷，并我的新名，都写在他上面。（启示录3:12）
老底嘉教会：得胜的，我要赐他在我宝座上与我同坐。（启示录3:21）
99. There are many passages in the Word about battles against evils, or trials. That is what these words of the Lord are about:
I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much fruit. (John 12:24)
Then there is this:
Those who wish to come with me must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. Those who try to save their own life will lose it, but those who lose their life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. (Mark 8:34-35)
The "cross" means these trials, as it does also in Matthew 10:38; 16:24; Mark 10:21; and Luke 14:27. "Life" means the life we claim as our own, as it does also in Matthew 10:39; 16:25; Luke 9:24; and especially John 12:25. It is also the life of "the flesh," which "is of no benefit at all" (John 6:63). In the Book of Revelation, the Lord spoke to all the churches about battles against evils and victories over them:
To the church in Ephesus: To those who overcome I will give [food] to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God. (Revelation 2:7)
To the church in Smyrna: Those who overcome will not be hurt by the second death. (Revelation 2:11)
To the church in Pergamum: To those who overcome I will give the hidden manna to eat; and I will give them a white stone, and on the stone a new name written that no one knows except the one who receives it. (Revelation 2:17)
To the church in Thyatira: To those who overcome and keep my works to the end I will give power over the nations, and give the morning star. (Revelation 2:26, 28)
To the church in Sardis: [Those who overcome will be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot their names from the Book of Life; I will confess their names before my Father and before his angels. (Revelation 3:5)
To the church in Philadelphia:] Those who overcome I will make pillars in the temple of my God, and will write upon them the name of God, the name of the city of God, the New Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from God, and my new name. (Revelation 3:12)
To the church in Laodicea: To those who overcome I will grant to sit with me on my throne. (Revelation 3:21)
99. Battles against evils, which is what temptations or trials are, is the subject in many places in the Word. They are meant by these words of the Lord:
...I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much fruit. (John 12:24) And by these:
Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. ...whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. (Mark 8:34-35) The cross means temptation or trial, as it does also in Matthew 10:38, 16:24, Mark 10:21, and Luke 14:27. Life means the life of a person’s inherent character, as it does also in Matthew 10:39, 16:25, Luke 9:24, and especially John 12:25. It is also the life of the flesh which profits nothing (John 6:63).
The Lord speaks to all the churches in the book of Revelation regarding battles against evils and victories over them. To the church in Ephesus:
To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God. (Revelation 2:7) To the church in Smyrna:
He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death. (Revelation 2:11) To the church in Pergamum:
To him who overcomes I will give to eat of the hidden manna. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written, which no one knows except him who receives it. (Revelation 2:17) To the church in Thyatira:
He who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations...and...the morning star. (Revelation 2:26, 28) To the church in Sardis:
He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. (Revelation 3:5) To the church in Philadelphia:
He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God.... And I will write on him the name of...God and the name of the city of...God, the New Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from...God. Also My new name. (Revelation 3:12) To the church in Laodicea:
To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne.... (Revelation 3:21)
99. Combats against evils, which are temptations, are treated of in many places in the Word, and are meant by these words of the Lord:
I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. John 12:24;
Also by these words:
Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
For whosoever will save his life (anima) shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the Gospel's, the same shall save it. Mark 8:34-35.
By the cross is meant temptation,
As also in Matthew 10:38; Matthew 16:24; Mark 10:21; Luke 14:27;
By life is meant the life of man's proprium,
As also in Matthew 10:39; Matthew 16:25; Luke 9:24; and especially in John 12:25;
Which is also the life of the flesh that profiteth nothing, John 6:63. Concerning combats against evils and victories over them, the Lord speaks to all the Churches in the Revelation:
To the Church in Ephesus: To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God. Apocalypse 2:7.
To the Church in Smyrna: He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death. Apocalypse 2:11.
To the Church in Pergamos: To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it. Apocalypse 2:17.
To the Church in Thyatira: He that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations ...
... And the morning star. Apocalypse 2:26, 28.
To the Church in Sardis: [He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before His angels. Apocalypse 3:5.
To the Church in Philadelphia]: Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God ... and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of God, which is the New Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from God, and my new name. Apocalypse 3:12.
To the Church in Laodicea: To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne. Apocalypse 3:21.
99. Battlings against evils, which battlings are temptations, are treated of in many places in the Word. They are meant by these words of the Lord:
I say unto you, Except a grain of wheat fall into the earth and die, it abideth by itself alone; but if it die, it beareth much fruit (John 12:24).
And also by these:
If any man would come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whosoever would save his life shall lose it and whosoever shall lose his life for My sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it (Mark 8:34-35).
The "cross" means temptation (as also in Matthew 10:38; 16:24; Mark 10:21; Luke 14:27). By his "life" is meant the life of man's Own (as also in Matthew 10:39; 16:25; Luke 9:24; and especially in John 12:25), which is also the "life of the flesh that profiteth nothing" (John 6:63).
In regard to battlings against evils, and victories over them, the Lord speaks in the Revelation to all the churches:
To the church in Ephesus: To him that overcometh, to him will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God (Revelation 2:7).
To the church in Smyrna: He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death (Revelation 2:11).
To the church in Pergamos: To him that overcometh, to him will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and upon the stone a new name written, which no one knoweth but he that receiveth it (Revelation 2:17).
To the church in Thyatira: He that overcometh, and that keepeth My words unto the end, to him will I give power [potestas] over the nations; and the morning star (Revelation 2:26, 28).
To the church in Sardis [He that overcometh shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot his name out of the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father, and before His angels (Revelation 3:5).
To the church in Philadelphia:] He that overcometh I will make a pillar in the temple of My God, and I will write upon him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, of the New Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from My God, and My new name (Revelation 3:12).
To the church in Laodicea: He that overcometh I will give to him to sit down with Me in My throne (Revelation 3:21).
99. De pugnis contra mala, quae sunt tentationes, multis in locis in Verbo agitur. Intelliguntur per haec Domini verba:
"Dico vobis, Nisi granum tritici cadens in terram moriatur, ipsum solum manet; si vero moriatur, multum fructum fert" (Johannes 12:24 1).
Tum per haec:
"Quisquis voluerit post Me venire, abrogato se ipsum, ac tollat crucem suam, et sequatur Me. Quisquis... voluerit animam servare, perdet eam; qui vero perdiderit animam suam propter Me, et propter Evangelium, hic servabit illam" (Marcus 8:34-35):
Per "crucem" intelligitur tentatio
(ut quoque Matthaeus 10:38; 16:24: Marcus 10:21: Lucas 14:27);
Per "animam" intelligitur vita proprii hominis
(ut quoque Matthaeus 10:39; 16:25: Lucas 9:24: et imprimis Johannes 12:25);
Quae etiam est vita "carnis," quae non prodest quicquam (Johannes 6:63). De pugnis contra mala, et de victoriis super illa, loquitur Dominus ad omnes ecclesias in Apocalypsi.
Ad Ecclesiam in Epheso: "Qui vincit, dabo ut comedat de arbore vitae, quae est in medio paradisi Dei" (Apocalypsis 2:7).
Ad Ecclesiam in Smyrna: "Qui vicerit, non damnum patietur in morte altera" (Apocalypsis 2:11).
Ad Ecclesiam in Pergamo: "Qui vincit, illi dabo ut comedat de manna abscondita; et dabo illi calculum album, et super calculo nomen novum scriptum, quod nemo novit nisi qui accipit" (Apocalypsis 2:17).
Ad Ecclesiam in Thyatiris: Qui vicerit et servaverit ad finem opera mea, illi dabo potestatem super gentes;... et stellam matutinam" (Apocalypsis 2:26, 28).
Ad Ecclesiam in Sardibus: 2("Qui vicerit induetur vestimentis albis; et non delebo nomen ejus e libro vitae; et confitebor nomen ejus coram Patre meo et coram angelis Ejus" (Apocalypsis 3:5).
Ad Ecclesiam in Philadelphia:) "Qui vicerit, eum faciam columnam in templo Dei mei et scribam super eum nomen Dei, et nomen urbis Dei Novae Hierosolymae, quae descendit e caelo a Deo.., et nomen meum novum" (Apocalypsis 3:12).
Ad Ecclesiam in Laodicea: "Qui vicerit, illi dabo ut sedeat Mecum in throno meo" (Apocalypsis 3:21)
Footnotes:
1. 24 pro "25"
2. Dicta ad Ecclesiam in Sardibus, Apocalypsis Revelata 71, similiter desunt.