啓示錄 14 章 Revelations 14
- 馬克牧師
- Jul 14
- 13 min read
各位平安，我們這一講要繼續來分享《啟示錄》第十四章的經文。
在這一章開頭，約翰看見了那十四萬四千人，他們的額上寫著羔羊的名和祂父的名。我們從這裡看到，這群人身上也有一個印記，就像前面所提到那些有受印記的人一樣，但不同的是——這些人是屬於神的，是屬於耶穌基督羔羊的。
在古代，如果是一位奴僕，他的主人會在他身上蓋上印記——寫上主人的名字，這代表幾個層面的意義：
第一，這個奴僕的所有權是屬於這位主人。第二，這也代表著他對主人的忠誠。第三，更重要的是，這個奴僕將受到主人的保護與供養，從此倚靠主人而活。
雖然在當時，「奴僕」是一個貶義詞，是社會中最卑微的身分，但在這裡，當我們說我們是上帝的僕人，這是榮耀的身分。因為我們是屬於至高上主的，祂是創造天地萬有的主宰。我們成為祂的僕人，是出於自願的順服與全然的倚靠。
這段經文還描述了一幅美妙的景象：天上有聲音，好像眾水的聲音、雷鳴的聲音，還有彈琴者所彈的琴聲，如同一首天上的合奏曲，震撼又美麗，充滿了上帝的榮美。
這首歌，除了這十四萬四千人以外，沒有人能學會。 這說明，他們有一份與神獨特的親密關係，也代表他們的生命經歷，使他們能唱出這首屬天的樂章。之前我們也解釋過，「十四萬四千人」不是一個絕對的數字，而是象徵那些完全順服上帝、忠心到底的人們。他們是分別為聖、獻上自己給主的人，是屬神的軍隊，是地上為主爭戰、在靈裡得勝的人。
接下來我們看第4節和第5節的經文：這段話提到，這些人是「未曾沾染婦女，原是童身」，「他們是跟隨羔羊的，無論羔羊往哪裡去，他們都跟隨」，「在他們口中沒有謊言，是沒有瑕疵的」。
這裡我們常常會遇到一個問題，就是有人看到「未曾沾染婦女」就會問：「那是不是我們都不應該結婚？都應該保持處男處女的身分？婚姻是不是不屬靈？」這是一段需要謹慎解釋的經文。
首先，有一種解釋認為，這裡所說的「未曾沾染婦女」不是字面上的意思，而是指這些人在道德與信仰上是純潔的。因為當時羅馬社會的性文化極其混亂，性放縱、淫亂甚至成為日常。所以這裡可能是強調，他們在性道德上是聖潔的，是分別為聖的。
第二種解釋是屬靈上的應用：這些人象徵著那些沒有拜過假神，沒有與屬靈淫亂有份的人。他們只敬拜獨一的真神，沒有與任何偶像、虛假宗教有牽連，因此被形容為「童身」、「貞潔」。
也有第三種看法認為，這些人真的就是終身獨身、守貞的，獻上一生給神而沒有進入婚姻。但我們要明白，這並不是說「不結婚」就比「結婚」更屬靈。
事實上，婚姻本是神所設立的。從創世記開始，神造男造女，要他們彼此結合、生養眾多；在新約裡，耶穌也肯定婚姻，說人要離開父母與妻子聯合，成為一體；保羅甚至用丈夫與妻子的關係來比喻基督與教會的關係。希伯來書也說：「婚姻，人人都當尊重。」
所以婚姻不是有問題的，真正有問題的，是在婚姻之外發生性行為，或者不尊重上帝原本設計的婚姻關係。
當然，對某些人來說，神會賜下「獨身的恩賜」。這些人心思意念全然獻給主，沒有家庭、沒有兒女，是為了專一服事神。就像舊約的先知，有的娶妻、有的獨身——這都是神給個別人的呼召與恩賜。
如果你自己並沒有渴望結婚，也沒有想尋找伴侶的心，那也許你正有這份獨身的恩賜。但如果你心中渴望婚姻、想尋找生命中的另一半，那你也可以放心、大膽地去尋求上帝所預備給你那位美好的伴侶。神的心意，是要我們活在祂所賜的關係中，不論是婚姻或獨身，都是祂所喜悅的，只要是祂為你所定的道路。
我們在解釋類似這樣的經文時，真的要特別小心與謹慎。
因為在教會歷史上，曾經有不少時候，一不小心就把這些經文過度靈意化，變成一種錯誤的標準。例如，有人會說：「你看！守獨身的才是更屬靈的！童身才是更高層次的追求！」這樣的教導不僅沒有造就人，反而讓那些渴望婚姻的弟兄姊妹感到羞愧或被排擠。
事實上，這種錯誤的理解，在早期教會的歷史中也發生過。早期的修道院，曾經就是根據這類經文，制定了極為嚴苛的要求：所有的修士和修女都必須終身獨身，不可結婚，不可生育，要把整個人生都「獻給上帝」。
連馬丁路德在宗教改革之前，也曾經是這樣的修士。但後來他漸漸明白，這樣的制度其實是違背了上帝的創造與心意。
上帝創造婚姻，是為了人類的祝福與完整。除非一個人真的從心裡有「獨身的恩賜」，是為了神的國度、甘心樂意地奉獻自己——那的確是美好的事。但對大多數人來說，婚姻才是上帝為他們所設計的道路。
所以，不需要覺得「結婚就比較次等」，也不需要勉強自己走上獨身的路。相反地，我們要學習分辨上帝對自己人生的呼召：若你渴望婚姻，就勇敢地去尋求上帝為你預備的那一位，並且與他（或她）一同建立家庭、生養兒女，完成神給你的使命。
我們不是為了成為某種「屬靈模範」而活，而是為了活在神為我們預備的命定與關係裡。那才是真正合神心意的生命。
接下來，約翰看到了一個天使飛在空中，這位天使帶著「永遠的福音」，要傳給住在地上的萬民——包括各國、各族、各方、各民。
他大聲宣告：「應當敬畏神，將榮耀歸給祂，因為祂施行審判的時候已經到了。」
這是一個全球性的呼召，呼籲所有人——不論身在何處、不論背景為何——都要轉向神，敬拜那位創造天地海與水泉的主。
接著，第二位天使出現了，他說：「巴比倫大城傾倒了，傾倒了！」這是一個對當時猶太人極具震撼力的語句。
因為「巴比倫」對猶太人來說，不僅是歷史上的強權，更是他們國破家亡、被擄為奴的傷痛記憶。公元前586年，巴比倫滅了猶大國，毀了聖殿，擄走了百姓。那是一段深刻的民族創傷。
然而我們也知道，巴比倫的興起是上帝暫時允許的，用來管教祂的子民。但到了時間滿足，巴比倫自己也被上帝審判與傾覆。
所以在《啟示錄》中，「巴比倫」成了一個象徵性的詞彙，在當時代表的是羅馬帝國，後來也象徵整個與神敵對、敗壞世界的體系。這一切看似強大的勢力，終究會傾倒在上帝的審判之下。
然後，第三位天使出現了，他帶來的是更強烈的警告。他說：那些拜獸、拜獸像，或在額上、手上有獸的印記的人，都要喝神忿怒的酒——這酒是純一不雜、盛在神忿怒的杯中，要在聖天使和羔羊面前受痛苦。
這是一個極為嚴厲的畫面，描述那些選擇效忠於世界、順從敵基督體制的人，將會在永恆中承受上帝的公義審判。
有人可能會問：為什麼這段這麼可怕？為什麼約翰要寫得這麼極端？
其實，這不是為了恐嚇，而是為了當時的信徒——那些正在面對生死逼迫的弟兄姊妹。這樣的畫面，給他們一個強烈的提醒：你們不是孤單的；上帝知道一切，最終的審判與得勝一定會來到。
因此第12節就成為一個關鍵的轉折點：「聖徒的忍耐就在此；他們是守神誡命和耶穌真道的。」
這句話是在呼喚當時、也是今天的信徒，要繼續忍耐，持守信仰。
而第13節也帶來極大的安慰：「從今以後，在主裡死的人有福了！聖靈說，是的，他們息了自己的勞苦，做工的果效也隨著他們。」
這節經文我們常常會在基督徒的葬禮中聽到，因為它提醒我們——人生真正的價值，不在於我們留下多少財富或地位，而是我們在主裡所做的工。
我們在地上傳了多少福音、服事了多少人、參與了多少神的工作——這些屬靈的果效才是我們真正能帶得走的財富。
所以弟兄姊妹，不要小看你今天的服事與擺上。即使沒有人看見，天上的神都記得。而你在主裡的每一分勞苦，都不會白費。
接下來，我們看到——審判的時候到了，收割的時候也到了。
約翰繼續記載這場末世的畫面，他看見「有一位像人子的，坐在雲上，頭戴金冠冕，手裡拿著快鐮刀。」這裡的「人子」很明顯是指耶穌基督，祂是審判的主，是主宰一切歷史終局的王。
天使向那坐在雲上的主呼喊：「伸出你的鐮刀收割吧，因為地上莊稼已經成熟了。」
於是，那位坐在雲上的就伸出鐮刀，收割地上的莊稼。
這是第一個收割的畫面——代表著屬神的子民已經成熟，到了被接回、得贖、進入永恆的時候了。這是一個得救的收割，是一群忠心到底的人被主收納的畫面。
接下來，我們看到第二個收割，這一次是由另一位天使執行的，而且這位天使是「掌管火的」。他對另一位也拿著鐮刀的天使說：「伸出你的鐮刀，收取地上葡萄的果子，因為葡萄已經熟透了。」
但這一次收割的對象不是莊稼，而是葡萄——這葡萄被丟進「神忿怒的大酒醡中」，象徵著對邪惡的勢力、敵基督者、悖逆神之人的審判。
經文最後寫到：「血從酒醡裡流出，高到馬的嚼環，遠有六百里。」
這是一幅極具震撼力的畫面——象徵神的忿怒是徹底且公義的。祂沒有忘記一個人的苦難，也沒有忽略一件不義的事。在審判的日子，那些敵對神、逼迫聖徒的權勢，將要被完全對付。
這兩個收割，形成鮮明對比——
· 一個是為了收取屬神的子民，是慈愛的收割。
· 一個是為了執行對世界的審判，是公義的收割。
神的慈愛與公義，總是在祂的審判中同時展現。這一段讓我們對末日有更清楚的圖像，也提醒我們，要時刻警醒、持守信仰，直到主來。
同樣的，我們在解釋這段經文的時候也要特別小心，不能誤以為「葡萄」就是不好的、「莊稼」才是好的。
畢竟，耶穌自己曾說：「我是真葡萄樹，你們是枝子。」葡萄在聖經中其實有非常多正面的象徵意義，是豐收、生命、甚至是與主連結的記號。
所以這裡經文中的對比，不是在說葡萄這種植物比較差、莊稼比較好，而是透過這兩種收割，展現出兩種截然不同的結局與命運。
約翰就是利用這個鮮明的形象，來傳達一個屬靈的真理：那些不願悔改、選擇跟從世界，被世界引誘的人，最終將面對神的審判。
十四章的經文默想到這邊，下一講我們繼續默想第十五章的經文。感謝各位的聆聽，願上帝祝福各位。
Peace to you all. In this session, we continue meditating on Revelation chapter 14.
At the beginning of this chapter, John sees 144,000 people with the name of the Lamb and the name of His Father written on their foreheads. Just as in previous chapters some had the mark of the beast, these people also bear a mark—but they belong to God, to the Lamb, Jesus Christ.
In ancient times, a slave would be marked with his master’s name, which carried multiple layers of meaning:
It declared ownership—he belonged to his master.
It signified loyalty—he was committed to his master.
Most importantly, it meant he would be under the master’s protection and provision, relying on the master for life.
Though “slave” was a degrading social status in those days, to be called a servant of God is an honor. We belong to the Sovereign Lord, Creator of heaven and earth. We serve Him willingly, in humble obedience and complete dependence.
Then John describes a magnificent scene:A sound from heaven like rushing waters, mighty thunder, and harpists playing—a heavenly symphony, stunning and beautiful, filled with God’s majesty.
This song can be learned by no one but the 144,000—which shows they have a unique, intimate relationship with God. Their life experience has shaped them to sing this heavenly melody. As explained before, this number 144,000 is symbolic, representing those fully surrendered to God, set apart, faithful to the end. They are the army of the Lord, the spiritually victorious people who have fought the good fight on earth.
In verses 4 and 5, these people are described as:
“They have not defiled themselves with women, for they are virgins.”
“They follow the Lamb wherever He goes.”
“No lie was found in their mouths; they are blameless.”
This leads to a common question:Does this mean Christians shouldn’t get married? Is sexual abstinence more spiritual than marriage? Is marriage somehow unholy?
This passage needs to be interpreted carefully.
There are three main interpretations:
Moral/Purity Interpretation: “Not defiled with women” does not refer literally to marital intimacy but to their purity in a morally corrupt society. Roman culture was sexually chaotic. This may be emphasizing their sexual holiness and being set apart in a perverse world.
Spiritual Symbolism: The phrase may be a metaphor for spiritual faithfulness. These people have not committed spiritual adultery—they have not worshipped idols or false religions. They remain loyal to the one true God, so they are described as “virgins” or “pure.”
Literal Celibacy: Some believe it refers to actual lifelong celibacy—individuals who dedicate their entire lives to God without marrying. But this does not mean that unmarried people are more spiritual than married ones.
In fact, marriage is God’s design.From Genesis, God created male and female to be united and fruitful. In the New Testament, Jesus affirms marriage, saying that a man shall leave his parents and be united to his wife. Paul uses the relationship between husband and wife to symbolize Christ and the Church. Hebrews also says, “Marriage should be honored by all.”
So marriage is not a problem—sexual immorality and dishonoring God's design for marriage are the problem.
Of course, some are given the gift of celibacy—dedicating themselves fully to God, without spouse or children, to serve Him wholeheartedly. Like the prophets—some were married, some were not—each according to God’s unique call and grace.
If you do not desire marriage and feel no pull toward finding a partner, you may have the gift of celibacy.But if you do long for marriage and companionship, that is also God-given. Feel free to seek the spouse God has prepared for you, build a family, and fulfill your calling in that context.
We must be careful not to twist such passages into legalistic burdens.Church history has seen this happen often—turning “virginity” into the highest spiritual status, shaming those who desire marriage.
This led to monastic systems, where monks and nuns were required to remain celibate for life, based on verses like this. Even Martin Luther was once a celibate monk—until he realized this system contradicted God's creation and intent.
Marriage was made to bless humanity. Unless someone has the genuine, joyful call to celibacy for God’s Kingdom, marriage is the normative path God designed.
So don’t think being married makes you less spiritual. Nor should you force yourself into celibacy. Instead, discern God's personal call for your life. If you're called to marriage, pursue it with confidence and joy, trusting God to provide. What matters is not being a “spiritual model,” but living in God’s will and purpose for you.
Next, John sees an angel flying in midair, carrying the eternal gospel to proclaim to every nation, tribe, language, and people.
He cries out:“Fear God and give Him glory, because the hour of His judgment has come. Worship Him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and the springs of water.”
This is a global invitation to worship the Creator, not idols or worldly powers.
Then a second angel appears, announcing:“Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great!”
To Jewish readers, Babylon was more than a city—it was a trauma.In 586 BC, Babylon destroyed Judah, leveled the temple, and took the people into exile. Babylon became a symbol of oppression, idolatry, and destruction.
But Babylon’s rise was temporary—God eventually judged and overthrew it.
In Revelation, “Babylon” is symbolic of Rome and every corrupt world system that opposes God. No matter how powerful such systems appear, they will fall under God’s judgment.
Then comes a third angel with an even stronger warning:
Anyone who worships the beast, its image, or receives its mark will drink the wine of God's wrath, poured full strength into the cup of His anger.They will suffer torment in the presence of the holy angels and the Lamb.
This is a severe warning. It describes eternal judgment on those who align with the antichrist system.
You might ask: “Why is this passage so harsh? Why does John write such terrifying things?”
The answer is: it's not to scare people, but to encourage persecuted believers.Those under pressure to worship Caesar, to conform or die, needed this reminder:God sees everything. Justice is coming. You are not alone.
That’s why verse 12 is a turning point:“This calls for patient endurance on the part of the people of God who keep His commands and remain faithful to Jesus.”
And verse 13 offers deep comfort:“Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.”The Spirit says, “Yes, they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them.”
We hear this verse often at Christian funerals—it reminds us that true value lies not in wealth or status, but in the work we do in the Lord.
Every sermon preached, every person served, every gospel shared—these are the eternal rewards we take with us.
So don’t despise your service today. Even if no one sees, God sees. And your labor in the Lord will never be in vain.
Next, John sees that the time of judgment has come—the harvest is ready.
He sees “one like a son of man” sitting on a cloud, wearing a golden crown, and holding a sharp sickle. This clearly refers to Jesus Christ, the Lord of the final harvest.
An angel cries out:“Take your sickle and reap, for the harvest of the earth is ripe.”The Son of Man swings His sickle, and the harvest is gathered.
This is the first harvest—representing God’s people, ready to be brought into eternal life. It is a harvest of salvation, the gathering of the faithful.
Then comes a second harvest, led by another angel, this time one in charge of fire.He instructs another angel to gather the grapes, which are then thrown into the great winepress of God’s wrath.
This time, the grapes represent those who rebelled against God, the antichrist system, and the unrepentant.
The passage ends with a vivid image:“Blood flowed out of the winepress, rising as high as the horses' bridles for a distance of 1,600 stadia.”
This symbolizes the complete and just wrath of God. He forgets no injustice, no suffering endured by His saints.
These two harvests form a stark contrast:
One is the loving harvest of salvation.
The other is the righteous harvest of judgment.
God’s love and justice are always present together. This chapter gives us a clear picture of the end times and reminds us to stay awake, stay faithful, and persevere until the Lord comes.
One final note of caution:Some readers might think “grapes” are bad and “grain” is good. But remember—Jesus called Himself the true vine, and said, “You are the branches.”Grapes in Scripture are often symbols of life, abundance, and connection with Christ.
So the contrast here isn’t between crops. It’s a symbol of two different destinies—two different responses to God.
John uses these powerful images to convey a spiritual truth:Those who refuse to repent and follow the world will face God's judgment.
That concludes our reflection on Revelation chapter 14.In the next session, we will move into chapter 15.
Thank you for listening. May the Lord bless you all.
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