1. Hello, listening friends.
亲爱的朋友，你好。
2. Thank you for tuning in to this brand new series of messages;
感谢你收听这一个新的系列信息；
3. and we’re going to talk about the coming of Jesus Christ.
在这个系列当中，我们要讲到耶稣基督的降临。
4. Jesus was not just a Prophet who was born and, then, later called to be the Messiah.
耶稣不仅仅是一位曾经活在世上，被称为弥赛亚的先知而已。
5. No, Jesus came from Heaven;
不是这样的，耶稣乃是从天而来；
6. and that is why His birth was prophesied hundreds of years before He was born.
所以，在祂降临好几百年以前，先知老早就预言到祂将要生在这个世界上。
7. That is why the coming of Christ is at the center of Christianity.
这就是为什么基督的降临成为基督教核心的原因。
8. Advent is the heart of the Scripture.
基督降临是圣经的中心。
9. Advent is God’s method of dealing with the human race.
基督降临成为神解决人类问题的唯一方法。
10. History moved toward the advent of Christ until it was accomplished;
历史朝向基督的降临一步步迈进，直到实现了；
11. and, in Him, history itself found its fulfillment and explanation.
而且，从耶稣基督身上，我们才明白历史的意义和目的。
12. The message of the Prophets,
先知的信息，
13. the songs of the psalmists,
诗人笔下的诗词，
14. they all came into their final crescendo announcing the birth of Jesus Christ.
他们所强调的，就是要宣告耶稣基督的降临。
15. From that advent of Christ, all subsequent movements have proceeded.
耶稣的降临带动了历史的进程，
16. The Old Testament theme was "Christ is coming into the world."
旧约圣经的信息主题就是“基督将要降临在世界上。”
17. It is vitally important, therefore, to understand the purpose of Advent.
所以，了解基督降临的意义是非常重要的。
18. Why did Christ come from Heaven?
基督为何从天而降？
19. First,
首先，
20. He came to destroy the works of the devil.
祂来要摧毁魔鬼的工作。
21. Secondly,
第二，
22. to eliminate the power of sin.
祂来要消灭罪的势力。
23. Thirdly,
第三，
24. to reveal the Father;
祂要向人彰显父神的荣耀；
25. and, fourthly,
第四，
26. He came to lay the foundation for the Second Advent.
为祂第二次的降临奠定基础。
27. You can state them backward,
无所谓前后次序，
28. you can change them around,
随便我们怎么说，
29. but these truths are the four foundations of the purpose of Advent:
总之，以上这四点就是耶稣降临的四大目的：
30. destroying the work of the devil,
也就是，摧毁魔鬼的工作，
31. taking away sin,
除去罪恶的势力，
32. revealing the face of the Father,
彰显天父的面貌，
33. and moving the Kingship of God toward consummation.
彻底实现神国的王权。
34. Let’s today look at the first purpose of Advent,
今天我们就专门探讨耶稣降临的第一个目的，
35. namely, to destroy the works of the devil.
也就是摧毁魔鬼的作为。
36. The enemy, here, is described as the "devil."
我们所指的仇敌，就是魔鬼。
37. In the Gospel according to John, Chapter 8,
在约翰福音第八章，
38. Jesus said that the devil is a murderer from the beginning; he is a liar.
耶稣说，从起初开始，魔鬼就是杀人和撒谎的。
39. Later on, we are told that the devil put it into the heart of Judas to betray Christ.
后来，我们看到，魔鬼撒但把出卖耶稣的意念放到犹大心里。
40. What kind of a person is this devil?
那么，撒但到底是个怎样的人物呢？
41. He is a murderer.
他是个杀人犯，
42. He is a liar.
他是说谎的，
43. He is a betrayer,
他是个叛徒，
44. and the fountainhead of sin and lawlessness.
是一切犯罪和不守真理的根源。
45. What about his work?
他干了些什么事呢？
46. His work is that of murder and destruction of life.
他专门干杀人和毁坏生命的勾当。
47. His work is that of being a liar and the extinguisher of light.
他的工作就是撒谎，并带来黑暗。
48. His work is being a betrayer,
他专门出卖人，
49. which is a violation of love.
破坏真爱。
50. His work is lawlessness,
它不认识真理，
51. which is breaking and destroying the Law.
违法乱纪。
52. These are the works of the devil.
这就是魔鬼撒但的工作，
53. As a murderer, he is not satisfied with only destroying physical life,
这个凶手，不仅要毁掉一个人肉体的生命，
54. but his great desire is to destroy life eternally.
他一心一意要把人推进永恒的灭亡里。
55. His main work is to keep men and women alienated from God.
他主要的工作就是要让人远离神。
56. His biggest preoccupation is to keep men and women spiritually blind so they cannot know God.
他处心积虑地要弄瞎人心灵的眼睛，以至于不能认识神。
57. He will tell them that it is fine to be religious, but you cannot know God personally.
他迷惑人说，你可以作一个教徒，但却不可以和神建立密切的关系。
58. The devil knows that he cannot keep religion out of the world altogether;
撒但明白，从世上消除宗教观念是不可能的；
59. so, he deceives people into being religious, but not lovers of God.
因此，他就欺骗人们，可以接受宗教，却不要爱神。
60. On a physical realm,
归根结底，
61. all the diseases, the pain and the hurt of the world,
世界上一切的疾病和痛苦，
62. they are ultimately the result of sin and are among the works of the devil.
都是撒但所带来的罪而引起的后果。
63. The Greek word for "murderer" literally means a "slayer of men;"
在希腊文当中，“凶手” 就是“杀人犯”；
64. so the devil’s ultimate desire is to slay us spiritually;
因此，撒但最终的目的，就是要让我们的灵性死亡；
65. also, to slay us mentally
同时，也摧毁我们的理性，
66. by blinding men and women toward God.
让我们看不见神的存在。
67. He slays us physically
他伤害我们的身体，
68. by bringing all manner of disease and death;
使我们患各种疾病，甚至死亡；
69. but he is more than all of that.
不仅如此。
70. He is a liar.
他也是个欺骗者，
71. When a person lies, that person operates in secret.
当一个人撒谎的时候，他就会鬼鬼祟祟。
72. He operates in darkness.
在暗处动手脚。
73. Once a lie is exposed to the light,
谎言一旦被拆穿，
74. it is no longer a secret;
事情就会真相大白；
75. so, what Satan does is extinguish the light so that people stumble along the way.
所以，撒但千方百计地阻止光照进人心里，这样，人们就很轻易地被绊倒。
76. My listening friend, please listen carefully.
我亲爱的朋友，请仔细听我说。
77. All ignorance,
一切的愚昧，
78. all despair,
一切的绝望，
79. all wandering over the trackless desert of life,
生命中一切的迷失和彷惶，
80. are all due to the extinguishing of light.
都是因为人里头的光昏暗了。
81. The liar is the one who brings darkness into a situation.
欺骗者魔鬼就是形成黑暗的罪魁祸首。
82. Thirdly, his work is a betrayer.
第三，撒但是一个叛徒。
83. We see it in the way he entered into the heart of Judas and planted the seed of betrayal.
我们从犹大身上可以看出，当撒但进入他心里的时候，他就起了出卖耶稣的念头。
84. For three years, Judas looked like a Disciple.
三年以来，犹大看起来和其他门徒没什么两样。
85. He acted like a Disciple;
他的所作所为也很像一个门徒；
86. but, in reality, he had a private agenda.
但事实上，他有私心。
87. He wanted Jesus to get involved with the Zealots.
他想让耶稣加入狂热份子的组织里。
88. They were the revolutionary party that wanted to overthrow the Roman authority;
他们是企图推翻罗马政权的革命党；
89. and, when Jesus refused to get involved in politics,
当耶稣拒绝和政治有瓜葛时，
90. Judas became bitter.
犹大恼羞成怒，
91. Judas became angry,
犹大气愤填胸，
92. and Satan took advantage of that and planted the seed of betrayal;
撒但乘虚而入，把出卖耶稣的意念放到了犹大心里；
93. but, my listening friend,
可是，我亲爱的朋友，
94. Satan does the same thing today.
撒但今天的工作也不例外。
95. He plants the seed of betrayal-
他还在播撒叛逆的种子──
96. betrayal between husbands and wives,
让夫妻之间互相背叛，
97. betrayal between two brothers in Christ,
让主内的肢体彼此相斗，
98. betrayal between family members.
在家人中间挑起争端，
99. In the case of a married couple, for example,
比如说，夫妻之间，
100. when an argument develops that isn’t resolved, what happens?
一旦他们有了争论，互不相让的时候，有什么事情会发生呢？
101. Satan comes to one of the spouses and says,
撒但就会来到他们心里，说：
102. "Your spouse is not fair to you.
“他这样对待你，是不公平的，
103. You deserve better than this."
你完全可以得到更好的待遇。”
104. At that point, Satan provides you with an opportunity to betray your marriage vows.
就在这时，撒但会给你提供一个背叛婚约的机会。
105. The problem is that we are often too blind to see Satan’s schemes.
问题是，我们往往看不清撒但的诡计。
106. What is the work of the devil?
撒但的工作表现在哪些方面呢？
107. All jealousy,
一切的猜疑，
108. all cruelty,
残酷，
109. all envy,
嫉妒，
110. all strife.
争兢。
111. They are all the work of the devil;
这都是魔鬼的作为；
112. but Jesus came to destroy all of this.
然而，耶稣来就是为了摧毁魔鬼的作为。
113. That is why Jesus gave us the formula of how to overcome the devil.
这就是为什么耶稣告诉我们，如何才能战胜魔鬼的方法。
114. That is why Jesus commanded us to overcome Satan’s works.
所以，耶稣要求我们要胜过撒但的作为。
115. When jealousy begins to take hold of you,
当嫉恨控制你的时候，
116. when resentment begins to raise its ugly head,
当你怀恨在心，火冒三丈的时候，
117. stop right then and pray.
要立刻停下来祷告。
118. It is a liberating experience to pray for your enemies,
为仇敌祷告是让你得到解脱的最好办法，
119. and to bless your persecutors.
并且要为那逼迫你的人祝福。
120. Do you know what it means to pray for your enemy and bless your persecutors?
你明白，什么才是为仇敌祷告，为那逼迫你的人祝福吗？
121. It means that you are entrusting them to God’s justice;
这就是说，你要把这件事情交托给神，让神来主持公道；
122. and do you know what that is like?
你知道那是什么意思吗？
123. Although God’s justice might not be evident immediately,
即使神的公义没有立刻彰显，
124. but God’s justice is far more severe than human justice;
但是，神的判断要比人的审判严厉得多；
125. and, when you trust God to bring justice,
假如你信得过神必定施行公义，
126. you will have peace in your life.
你心里就会有平安。
127. Oh, yes, Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil.
不错，耶稣来就是为了要消灭撒但的作为。
128. Finally, Satan is the man of lawlessness.
最后一点，撒但是无法无天的，
129. Now, this does not mean being without law;
这并不是说，撒但没有神的律法；
130. it means being against the law.
而是说，他专门和律法作对。
131. It means being a lawbreaker;
也就是说，他是破坏律法的；
132. so that all the wrong that is done in the world,
因此，这世上一切罪恶的勾当，
133. whether it is done toward God or toward people,
不论是得罪神还是得罪人的，
134. are all the works of the devil;
都是撒但的诡计；
135. so, the Son of God was manifested that He might destroy the works of the devil.
因此，神的儿子降世为人，为要摧毁魔鬼的作为。
136. Not only restrain sin,
不但要遏制罪的蔓延，
137. but root it out and break it down.
更要把罪连根拔起，彻底消灭掉。
138. Not just limit sin,
不仅是要限制罪恶横行，
139. not just alleviating sin,
不仅是要缓和罪的伤害，
140. not just neutralizing sin,
不仅是要解除罪恶的势力，
141. but to destroy it.
而是要彻底歼灭它。
142. Advent was not merely the birth of a little child who will be a model man,
基督降临不仅仅是一个孩子的诞生，而这个小孩后来成为人类的楷模，
143. but there is more to it than that.
其意义不仅于此而已，
144. Advent is God Himself destroying the works of the devil.
基督降临乃是，神要亲自来消灭魔鬼的作为。
145. You say, "What does that mean—to destroy?"
也许你会问：“消灭是什么意思呢？”
146. It means to "dissolve" or to "loosen."
消灭就是“解体” 或者“瓦解” 的意思 ，
147. It means that which had been a consistent whole was broken up and scattered and wrecked.
也就是说，把那原本顽强的，整个砸碎、瓦解和毁坏。
148. Jesus’ advent was to loosen the consistency of the grip of the works of the devil.
耶稣降临就是要粉碎撒但的作为。
149. The cohesive forces that made the devil’s work strong -
撒但邪恶的势力──
150. Jesus broke them up.
被耶稣彻底粉碎了。
151. Jesus came to destroy hatred through the gift of love.
耶稣用爱消解了仇恨，
152. Jesus came to destroy lawlessness by the gift of obedience to the Lord.
耶稣用顺服摧毁了叛逆。
153. Jesus came to loosen, to break up and to destroy the negatives which mar and spoil;
耶稣来瓦解、打碎并消除了一切恶势力所带来的污染和腐败；
154. and He did this by bringing the positive that makes and uplifts.
祂的来临重建和修复了我们。
155. Jesus came to destroy death by the gift of eternal life,
耶稣来消灭了死的权势，带来永生，
156. for Jesus said in the Gospel of John,
因为，耶稣在约翰福音里告诉我们，
157. “…for this is eternal life, that they should know you, the only true God.”
“认识你独一的真神，并且认识你所差来的耶稣基督，这就是永生。”
158. This gift of eternal life destroys death.
这永生消灭了死亡。
159. That is why Paul could say,
因此保罗说，
160. “Oh, death, where is your sting?”
“死啊，你的毒钩在哪里？”
161. So, Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil by giving us the gift of eternal life.
所以说，耶稣来就是要摧毁撒但的作为，带给我们永远的生命。
162. As for darkness, it no longer has a hold over us.
黑暗再也不能控制我们。
163. The Light of the Word of God is here to guide us.
神话语的真光要照亮我们，引导我们。
164. The Light of the Holy Spirit leads us into all truth.
圣灵要引领我们进入一切的真理。
165. As for hatred, Jesus destroyed hatred by His gift of love.
主耶稣要用祂无限的大爱消灭一切的仇恨。
166. I’m sure some of you are probably asking,
也许你会问：
167. “If this is the case, why do we still have crime and violence and hatred?
“假如是这样的话，为什么世上还有罪犯、暴力和仇恨呢？
168. Why do we have hatred and prejudice and pride and wickedness?”
为什么还有憎恨、偏见、骄傲和邪恶呢？”
169. Well, you have not seen what it was like 2,000 years before Christ.
其实你还没见过在耶稣降临之前2000年的情况呢！
170. It was far worse.
那时候的状况简直是糟糕透了。
171. True, we see the works of the devil all around us still;
不错，我们看到撒但仍然很猖獗；
172. but we also see victories over his work all over this world.
但是，在世界各地，我们也看到，神的确战胜了撒但的权势。
173. We believers have victory over Satan and sin here on the earth,
在世界上，许多基督徒都能战胜撒但和罪恶，
174. which was impossible before Christ;
这在主耶稣降临之前是不可能的；
175. but we will have complete victory after his Second Coming.
然而，当主耶稣再次降临时，我们将会完全得胜。
176. The victory we are experiencing now is only the beginning.
我们现在所取得的胜利仅仅是个开始。
177. The ultimate victory is coming.
最终的胜利还在后面。
178. It is dawn right now,
现在是黎明时分，
179. but bright sunshine is coming.
灿烂的阳光就要普照大地。
180. It is not very visible now,
虽然现在还不大明显，
181. but the brightness of the Son is on its way;
但是，神儿子的荣光就要照亮大地；
182. and, there, we shall see Jesus as He is:
那时候，我们要亲眼看见祂荣耀的本相；
183. but the question is, are you ready?
问题是，你预备好迎见祂了吗？
184. Are you sure, if Jesus Christ comes back today, that you will be with Him?
如果耶稣今天回来，你有把握能永远与祂同在吗？
185. Are you sure that, if you were to die right now, you will be in His presence?
假如你今天离开世界，你有把握到主耶稣那里去吗？
186. You can have that assurance today.
今天，你就可以得着这凭据。
187. Ask God to forgive you of your sins
只要你求神饶恕你一切的罪，
188. and invite His Son, Jesus Christ, to be the Lord of your life,
并邀请神的儿子耶稣基督进入你心中，成为你生命之主，
189. and He promised to accept your invitation;
祂应许必定接受你的邀请；
190. and we hope that you’ll write to us and tell us that you’ve invited Christ into your life.
盼望你能够来信，告诉我们你如何接受主耶稣。
191. Until next time, I wish you God’s richest blessing.
好，我们下次节目再见，愿神大大赐福给你。
