1. Hello, listening friends, and welcome back to the broadcast.
亲爱的朋友，你好，欢迎你收听我们的节目；
2. If you have been listening to us, you know that we are in the midst of a series of messages on the Book of Daniel.
如果你一直在收听这个节目，你就会知道，我们正在讲但以理书的系列信息。
3. This series is entitled, “Standing Firm in a World of Shifting Sands,”
我们称它为“在流沙的世界里要站立得稳；”
4. and, with all the anxieties, insecurities, worries and concerns that beset our world today,
在当今的世界里，各种各样的焦虑、担忧和缺乏安全感一直困扰着人们，
5. it is the desire of our hearts that this series will be a blessing to you and yours.
我们心中盼望，这个系列的信息能够为你和你的家人带来赐福。
6. Because today’s message will remind you that only God knows the future.
因为今天的信息要提醒你，唯有神知晓未来。
7. Only God controls the future.
唯有神可以掌控未来。
8. Only God can foretell the future;
唯有神能够预言未来。
9. and, in Daniel, Chapter 11, the pre-incarnate Christ appears to Daniel in response to Daniel’s prayer, as we saw in the last message;
正如我们上一讲中所谈到的，在但以理书第11章，即将道成肉身的基督向但以理显现，作为对但以理祷告的回应；
10. and, there, by the Tigris River, the pre-incarnate Christ allowed Daniel to peer through the telescopic lens to see the future.
在底格里斯河边，即将道成肉身的基督让但以理通过望远镜得以窥见未来。
11. Daniel, Chapter 11, describes history before it happened.
但以理书第11章，将尚未发生的事描绘了出来。
12. Daniel, Chapter 11, is the most difficult Chapter in the Book of Daniel;
但以理书第11章，是整卷但以理书中最难理解的一章；
13. and that is why I will summarize it for you, so that we can learn some valuable lessons for today.
因此，我想为你总结出一些重点，好让我们今天可以学到有益的功课。
14. In that Chapter, the Lord tells Daniel the following:
在这一章中，神告诉但以理：
15. first of all, that Cyrus shall be an extremely rich King.
首先，塞鲁士将会成为富甲一方的帝王。
16. Secondly, he will use this considerable wealth to expand the Persian Empire all the way to Greece;
其次，他会使用这些财富把波斯帝国一直扩展到希腊；
17. and we know, from history, that his descendants, Xerxes, did just as the Lord told Daniel he would do many years earlier.
从历史记载中我们知道，他的后代薛西斯所作的，与神在多年以前向但以理预言的一模一样。
18. Third, the Lord said that the Persian Empire will not remain the dominant power in the world;
第三，神说波斯帝国在世界上的统治地位不会维持很久；
19. but, before long, the glory of the world would belong to Greece, which will be led into prominence by Alexander the Great.
而过不了多久，世界的荣华将会属于由亚历山大大帝所领导的强大的希腊，
20. Fourthly, in verse 3 of Daniel 11, the Lord refers to the future expeditions of this young man, Alexander the Great,
第四，在但以理书11章3节，神讲到亚历山大大帝，这个年轻人的未来，
21. and how Alexander will die in Babylon at the prime of his life;
亚历山大会在他生命最高峯的阶段死于巴比伦 ；
22. and Alexander the Great died at the age of 32.
的确，亚历山大大帝32岁时就死了。
23. In verse 4 of Daniel 11, the Lord tells Daniel that none of Alexander’s sons will inherit his empire;
在但以理书11章4节，神告诉但以理，亚历山大大帝的子嗣中没有一个能够继承他的王国，
24. and we know that his two sons were both killed.
我们也知道，他的两个儿子都被杀了。
25. Fifth,
第五，
26. twelve of Alexander’s great generals will then divide the empire among themselves.
亚历山大手下的12个将军要把帝国瓜分。
27. That will be followed by a considerable period of time of plotting and scheming;
经过相当长时间的筹划和谋算；
28. and, eventually, the Empire will be divided into four sections, just as it was foretold in verse 4 of Daniel 11.
最终，帝国将会被一分为四，这也正如但以理书11章4节中所预言的那样。
29. Sixth,
第六，
30. in verse 8, the Lord told Daniel that the King of the South, which was ruled by one of Alexander the Great’s generals will be eclipsed by the King of the North.
在第8节，神告诉但以理，亚历山大手下的一个将领所辖制的南方王将会被北方王的权势吞并。
31. Seventh,
第七，
32. after a period of time, they formed an alliance through marriage;
一段时间以后，他们会通过联姻组成一个联盟；
33. and it happened just as the pre-incarnate Christ said it would happen.
这一切的事情正如即将道成肉身的基督所预言的一样。
34. Eighth,
第八，
35. the King of the South will rise to power again and will take over the kingdom of the North,
南方王会再度兴起并接管北国，
36. just as verse 8 predicted;
正如第八节所预言的那样；
37. and, as we know from history, it happened exactly as the Bible said.
从历史记载中我们知道，这些都和圣经中讲的完全相符合。
38. Ninth,
第九，
39. as verse 11 predicted, the North then retaliated and defeated the South.
第11节中预言，北国后来会报复并打败南方。
40. Even Cleopatra, standing with her husband against her father, is foretold in Daniel 11:17.
甚至连克丽奥佩特拉站在丈夫一边对抗自己的父亲，也在但以理书11章17节中预言到了。
41. I know that all of this history is difficult and complicated,
我知道这段历史错综复杂，
42. but you must never miss this crucial point here.
但你不要漏掉这里面的关键所在。
43. Each detailed prediction in the Word of God happened exactly, to the minutest detail,
神的话语所预言的每一个细节，都与历史上发生的分毫不差，
44. because history is God’s story.
因为历史是神所书写的。
45. You can take the history books and superimpose them on Daniel, Chapter 11, and you will get one of the clearest pictures of the foreknowledge of God in the entire Bible.
你把历史书与但以理书11章来对照，就可以得出神在整本圣经中预言的一幅最清晰的图画。
46. What does this mean to you and to me today?
那么这一点对今天的你我有什么启发呢？
47. First of all, this should solidify our confidence in the Bible;
首先，这会坚定我们对圣经的信心；
48. and, secondly, it should solidify our confidence in the sovereignty of God.
第二，这也会坚定我们对神主权的信心。
49. First, Daniel, Chapter 11, should fortify our confidence in the Bible.
第一，但以理书11章将会坚固我们对圣经的信心。
50. For years, the Bible critics have always maligned the Bible.
多年以来，圣经的批评者一直在诽谤圣经。
51. They called It a book that is written by men who were bigots,
他们把圣经称之为由一群偏执的人写出来的书，
52. a book that is full of contradictions,
是一本充满了矛盾的书，
53. a book that is not different from other religious books,
是一本与其它宗教书籍没有什么不同的书，
54. and on and on they go;
等等，诸如此类的说法；
55. but you can confidently point them to Daniel, Chapter 11;
现在，你可以自信地指着但以理书11章给他们看；
56. because, in Daniel 11, they can see history written hundreds of years before it happened;
因为，在但以理书11章，他们可以看到，历史在成为事实的几百年以前已被写成；
57. and that should solidify their confidence in the Word of God.
这会坚定他们对神话语的信心。
58. My listening friend, listen to this.
亲爱的朋友，请留意。
59. The Bible is a God-breathed Book.
圣经是一本神默示的书卷。
60. It is the Book of God’s Self-revelation.
是神自我启示的书卷。
61. It is God’s truth revealed ahead of time.
神将真理在历史时钟之前就显明出来了。
62. The problem with most people is that they are confused about the Bible;
对许多人而言，他们的问题是对圣经感到困惑；
63. and the reason they’re confused about the Bible is because they have never read It;
他们之所以对圣经感到困惑，是因为他们从未读过圣经；
64. and, yet, they have the audacity to attack Its credibility.
他们却厚颜无耻地攻击圣经的可靠性。
65. Although they have never read It, they say It is just a mythology.
虽然他们从未读过，他们却说圣经只不过是一部神话故事。
66. Let me illustrate.
我来打个比方。
67. If you have a friend who always tells you the truth, no matter what,
如果你有一个朋友，无论何事总是跟你讲实话，
68. and, every time you try to verify what he said, you discover that he told you the exact truth,
而你每次去验证他所说的，都发现他告诉你的全是事实，
69. after awhile, what do you do?
经过一段时间后，你会怎样呢？
70. You completely trust that friend.
你会完全地相信那位朋友。
71. You never need to verify anything he said;
你不需要对他所讲的事情再去验证；
72. and it is the same with the Bible.
对圣经也是如此。
73. In every area that you can check up on It, you find that It is telling you the truth;
你查验的每一处，都会发现圣经所讲的是事实；
74. and any truly honest person who wants to verify the truth of the Bible can take Daniel, Chapter 11, and compare it to history;
一个真正诚实的人，如果想查验圣经的真实性的话，可以拿但以理书11章去与历史记载做比较；
75. and, if he is not astounded by its truthful predictions, then they are not honest;
如果他不为其真实的预言所惊叹的话，就不能算是诚实人；
76. because they have to conclude that, when the Bible predicts the future, It is not just three percent accurate, it is a hundred percent accurate.
因为他一定会看到，圣经在预言未来的时候，不是百分之三的准确，而是百分之百的准确。
77. Daniel, Chapter 11, confirms our confidence in the Bible as God’s own Word.
但以理书11章让我们确信，圣经就是神自己的话语。
78. Secondly, Daniel, Chapter 11, confirms our confidence in the sovereignty of God.
第二，但以理书11章，坚定我们对神主权的信心。
79. I often hear people say the future is out of control.
我常常听到人们说，未来是捉摸不定的。
80. I want to say that the future may be out of your control and out of my control, but it is never out of God’s control.
我想说，未来也许不在你和我的控制之下，但从来就没有脱离神的掌控。
81. To most modern historians, history is without meaning or purpose;
对大多数现代历史学家来说，历史是没有特别的意义和目的的；
82. but, in reality, history is the bringing to pass of what God has already decreed.
而事实是，历史记载了神所命定的事的逐步实现。
83. No one can frustrate God’s plan.
谁也不能阻碍神的计划。
84. Evil can never frustrate God’s will.
邪恶决不能阻碍神的意愿。
85. Evil can never overcome God’s plan.
邪恶决不能胜过神的计划。
86. On the contrary, as far as God’s children are concerned, God turns evil into His eternal purpose.
相反地，凡是关系到神儿女的，神要扭转邪恶来成就祂永恒的计划。
87. Joseph’s brothers plotted to kill him; then, they sold him into slavery;
约瑟的兄弟们要谋害他，他们将他贩卖为奴；
88. but their evil plans were overturned and God brought good out of it;
但他们邪恶的计划被逆转过来，神把它变成好事；
89. and Joseph became the Prime Minister of the superpower of the day.
并且让约瑟成为当时强大政权的宰相。
90. Nebuchadnezzar plotted to destroy Daniel and his friends,
尼布甲尼撒王想谋害但以理和他的朋友们，
91. but God brought victory and overthrew those who had evil intent;
可神让但以理得胜，并推翻那些图谋不轨的人；
92. but there’s something else here, my friend, I don’t want you to miss.
亲爱的朋友，还有一点请你记住。
93. When the pre-incarnate Christ enumerated all these future events to Daniel, the name of God wasn’t even mentioned once.
即将道成肉身的基督，向但以理列举所有这些未来要发生的事情之时，神的名字一次都没提到。
94. With all the wars and the plotting and the intrigue, there is no mention of God;
在所有这些争战和阴谋诡计中，都没有提到神；
95. and, to most of these people at that time, it appeared that history had nothing to do with God;
对当时的那些人来说，似乎历史的进展与神没有任何关系；
96. but, in reality, God is the One who is foretelling the future.
而事实上，却是神早已预告了未来的一切。
97. Listen carefully, my listening friend.
亲爱的朋友，请留意。
98. Sometimes in your life, when you are going through tough times,
当你的生命经历艰难的时候，
99. when you are going through your own private Gethsemane,
当你经历自己的客西马尼园的时候，
100. when you are going through pain and puzzling circumstances,
当你陷入痛苦和迷茫境地的时候，
101. you may be tempted into thinking that God is not there;
你也许被试探引诱，认为神不在那里；
102. but, oh, my listening friend, He is there.
但是，我亲爱的朋友，神就在那里。
103. He is controlling events in your life.
祂控制着你生命中的每一个事件。
104. God is bringing good out of pain;
神让痛苦变为你的益处；
105. and, when you read Daniel, Chapter 11, you will be overwhelmed with the historical facts about this emperor or that king;
当你读到但以理书11章的时候，你可能被这个帝王、那个将相的历史故事冲击；
106. but notice that God’s people have not even figured in in all of this.
但请注意，在这其中，神的百姓甚至都没有被提及。
107. To the world, they were of no measurable significance;
对世界而言，他们微不足道；
108. but even these events were proceeding on God’s schedule for the Savior to be born.
然而这些事的发生都在神的计划之中，为的是预备救主的降临。
109. God was orchestrating the events of history to the point that, when there was one common language—that is the Greek language—
神谱写这些历史事件，其重点是为了可以有一种通用的语言，也就是希腊语，
110. the Gospel message could be easily spread.
好让福音的信息能够更方便传播。
111. Only at the fullness of time will the Savior be born.
只有当时间满足了的时候，救主才会降临。
112. After Rome had built highways connecting the entire empire so that preachers and evangelists could travel with the good news of the Gospel,
罗马人建起了连系整个帝国的交通大道，使得传道人可以利用它将福音的好消息传开，
113. only then would the Savior be born,
只有到那时，救主才会降临，
114. because history is His story.
因为历史就是神的见证。
115. The reason believers are to be optimistic and fearless and forward-looking is because we know our heavenly Father controls the future;
信徒们之所以乐观，无所畏惧并勇往直前，是因为我们知道，我们在天上的父掌管着明天；
116. and, when you are sure that your Father is in control,
当你确信，自己的父神在掌权的时候，
117. even in the uncertain times,
即使你处在不确定的时期，
118. even in the tough times,
即使你处在艰难的时期，
119. even in the confusing times,
即使你处在迷茫的时期，
120. when you are sure your Father is in control, then you will be full of confidence.
当你确信自己的父神在掌权的时候，你就会充满信心。
121. You will have an attitude like that of Thomas Edison.
你就会有托马斯 · 爱迪生那样的态度。
122. Let me tell you about Thomas Edison, the inventor of electricity, as I conclude.
在结束的时候，我想和你谈谈电的发明者托马斯 · 爱迪生的故事。
123. On a December night in 1914,
在1914年12月的一个夜晚，
124. the inventive genius, Edison, lost his great laboratories in a huge fire.
大发明家爱迪生，他的实验室因一场大火而变成了废墟。
125. You would think that he would have been emotionally destroyed and distraught.
你会以为他在情绪上受到了毁灭性的打击。
126. You would think that he would have lost all hope;
你会以为他将丧失一切的希望；
127. but, on the contrary,
可是，恰恰相反，
128. the next morning, the 67-year-old man walked through the smoldering rubble of his laboratories and said the following,
第二天早晨，这位67岁的老人走在余烬未熄的实验室废墟之中，说了这样一段话：
129. “There is great value in disaster, for all of our mistakes are now burnt up.
“灾难有个了不起的好处，那就是将我们所有的错误都烧掉了。
130. Thank God that we can start again.”
感谢神，我们又可以重新开始了。”
131. That is the confidence by which the child of God faces the future.
这就是神的儿女面对未来所具有的那种信心。
132. Worldly kingdoms will plot and scheme and they will all crash and burn;
世上的国度费尽心机的筹划，但他们都将崩溃和焚烧殆尽；
133. but God protects His children.
而神会保守祂的儿女。
134. Worldly kingdoms will rise and fall, but God has you in the palms of His hands.
世上的国度兴起又衰亡，但神会把你放在祂的掌心。
135. That is why you need to look to Him and to Him alone;
因此，你只须单单仰望主耶稣就可以了；
136. and, until next time, I wish you God’s richest blessing.
愿神大大地赐福给你，下次节目再会。
