20:1–6 Because Jesus has bound Satan and severely limited his power to harm the people of God, the faithful actually share in Jesus’ rule throughout the entire NT age. However, in the last little bit before the end, all hell will break loose as Satan will be released and will thus wreak destruction. Happily, those remaining in the Lord will not be overcome. The second death has no power over those whom God’s Spirit has regenerated and kept in the true faith. • Lord, may we treasure above all things the “first resurrection” given us through the Word and Sacraments, for nothing will ever separate us from Your great love and compassion. Amen.

启20:1-6 因为耶稣已经捆绑了撒旦并且极大地限制了他伤害上帝子民的能力，整个新约时代的信徒实际上正在享受耶稣的国度权柄。但是，在末日降临前的最后一小会儿，所有的地狱将会大开，撒旦被释放，进而带来毁灭。欣慰的是，那些在主里面持之以恒的人必不会失败。第二次死亡对那些上帝圣灵重生且保守在真信仰里的人来说算不得什么。

主，在万事之上让我们珍惜已经藉着圣道和圣礼赐给我们的“第一次复活，”因为没有什么能将我们与你丰盛的爱和怜悯隔绝。阿们。

20:7–10 Even as John affirms that there will be a “little while” of suffering before the end of all things and the judgment, he assures the faithful that this will result in the ultimate destruction and removal of Satan and his lies. Consider how near we may be to the end of the age. Yet also consider what good news this is for believers! Christ comes to save and deliver us once and for all from every sin and evil. • Lord Jesus, help us to see and understand the great struggle between good and evil. Keep our hearts true to You, and grant us always to look to You for deliverance from the powers of hell. Amen.

启20:7-10 尽管约翰证实在所有事务的结局和审判来临之前会有那么“一小会儿”的苦难，然而他也坚固忠信的人，这苦难的末尾是撒旦和他谎言的终极毁灭和去除。思想下我们离世界末日是多么地近。然而也要纪念，这对信徒来说是怎样好的信息！基督要来一次彻底地拯救我们脱离所有的罪和凶恶。

主耶稣，帮助我们看清楚且明白善与恶之间的大争战。保守我们的心忠于你，时常恩赐我们，仰望你脱离地狱的权势。阿们。

20:11–15 Finally, John describes the judgment and overthrow of death. Since our first parents fled from the Lord in the garden (Gn 3:24), all their sinful descendants have been shutting their eyes and ears to the somber truth about the last judgment (cf Heb 10:31). However, Christ has covered us in the mantle of His righteousness. Consequently, our bodily resurrection will be unto glory and eternal bliss in God’s presence. • “Be still, my soul; the hour is hast’ning on When we shall be forever with the Lord, When disappointment, grief, and fear are gone, Sorrow forgot, love’s purest joys restored. Be still, my soul; when change and tears are past, All safe and blessed we shall meet at last.” Amen. (LSB 752:4)

启20:11-15 最后，约翰描述了对死亡的审判和摧毁。自从我们的始祖父母在伊甸园逃离主的面（创3:24）以来，所有的后裔都是有罪的，对最后审判的真相不愿意看也不愿意听（参 来10:31）。然而，基督已经用祂公义的袍遮盖我们。因此，我们身体的复活必将是在上帝面前的荣耀和永恒福乐中。

“我的灵魂呐，要平静；那时辰急速快要到来，我们必要永远与主同在，失望，悲伤和恐惧都要消散，不再有痛苦的记忆，爱的至洁喜乐将得重建。我的灵魂，要安静；变迁和眼泪都成为过去，我们最后遇见的都是平安和蒙福。”阿们。（LSB752:4）

21:1–8 The climax of this Book and indeed all of history at last comes clear: the restored heaven and earth is presented to God’s resurrected people. Such a magnificent future and hope call us to rise above the ugliness and sin of this fallen world, because impenitence and a lack of vigilance can still lead to the shipwreck of our souls. At the same time, God is faithful and so will unfailingly fulfill the purposes for which His Son became man; He will remove the curse that so sorely afflicts us. • Jesus, You suffered to make all things new. Therefore, renew our hearts and minds, and hasten the day when You shall present the holy city as Your beloved Bride, the Church. Amen.

启21:1-8 这卷书的高潮，也的确是整个历史的结局最后都变得清晰：重建的新天新地要赐给上帝复活的子民。如此壮阔恢弘的未来和盼望呼召我们脱离这堕落世界的丑陋和罪，因为不悔改和不警醒都能导向我们灵魂的破船。同时，上帝也是信实的，因此在履行祂儿子成为人所要达到的目的上必不会失败。祂必要挪去灼伤我们的咒诅。

耶稣，你受苦受难是要更新万事万物。所以，请更新我们的心思意念，加速那日的到来，就是你要呈递那圣城即教会作为你蒙爱的新妇的日子。阿们。

21:9–27 John continues his description of the glorified Church by focusing upon the splendor of the city in which God’s people will dwell eternally. On the one hand, the incredible beauty of the heavenly Jerusalem stretches our imaginations beyond what they can comprehend; on the other hand, the stern warnings about the impure, false, and detestable seem all too familiar. Yet God will overcome all evil, including that in our lives, for He who has written our names in the Book of Life will Himself see us home. • Christ Jesus, Bridegroom of the Church, help us to watch for the end of days and prepare for our reception into the new heaven and earth, where the great wedding feast never ends. Come soon, Lord Jesus. Amen.

启21:9-27 约翰继续描述荣耀的教会，聚焦在上帝百姓必将永远居住的那圣城的荣耀上。一方面，天上耶路撒冷的惊艳和美丽扩张我们的想象力，甚至超出所能理解的范围；另一方面，对不洁，虚假和污秽的严厉警告却是我们非常熟悉的。然而上帝必要战胜所有凶恶，包括在我们自己生活中的，因为祂已经将我们的名字写进生命册，祂也必亲自带领我们回天家。

基督耶稣，教会的新郎，请帮助我们为着末日警醒，预备我们被接进新天新地，盛大的婚姻在其中永不止息。快来，主耶稣。阿们。

22:1–5 John describes our life in heaven as having no hunger, darkness, loneliness, or pain but rather eternal joy in the presence of the one true God. How, then, can so many people fail to see the blessedness Jesus has laid out for us along the straight and narrow way that shortly leads to unceasing bliss? In many cases, the answer is simply that people do not appreciate the greatness of God’s grace and the magnificence of the glory that awaits the faithful. Inspired by God’s Word and preserved by His Spirit, however, we may already rejoice with those who have gone before us. • “Apostles, martyrs, prophets, there Around my Savior stand; And soon my friends in Christ below Will join the glorious band. O Christ, do Thou my soul prepare For that bright home of love That I may see Thee and adore With all Thy saints above.” Amen. (LSB 673:5–6)

启22:1-5 约翰描述天上的生活如此说，在那独一真上帝面前，不会有饥饿，黑暗，孤独，或痛苦，有的只是永恒的喜乐。然而，怎会有那么多人看不见耶稣已经在那通往不停息的欢喜的笔直狭窄的道路上为我们铺就的祝福？很多时候，答案仅仅是人们欣赏不了上帝恩典的伟大，还有那为信徒预备的荣耀是多么辉煌。然而，因着上帝话语的感召，祂圣灵的保守，我们已经可以同那些在我们之前离去的众圣徒欢喜快乐。

“使徒，殉道者，先知，他们侍立在我的救赎主周围；很快，我在基督里的仍在地上的朋友们必要加入这荣耀的乐团。基督啊，要预备我的灵魂迎接那充满爱的光明家园，好让我亲眼看见你，并与天上的众圣徒一起敬拜你。”阿们。（LSB 673:5-6）

22:6–21 Because John’s message is about the ultimate triumph of good over evil, it is always relevant and all the more as the world slides further into chaos and corruption. On one level, Rv powerfully confirms what we already fear, i.e., our world and everyone in it is doomed. More profoundly, however, this Book is about transcendent hope. It shows how infinitely greater God is than evil. By offering a vision of the new creation soon to be revealed, Rv draws us on toward our blessed hope in Christ. To Him be power and glory throughout the ages! • Blessed Redeemer, help us to keep these holy words and thereby conquer sin, death, and the devil. May we, along with Your whole Church on earth and heaven, continue praying with full confidence and a joyful expectation, “Come, Lord Jesus! Come quickly!” Amen.

启22:6-21 因为约翰的信息是在说善对恶的最终胜利，因此他的信息总是与我们有关系，并且随着世界更深跌入混乱和败坏，这信息就越发与我们亲近。一方面，启示录强有力地佐证了我们已经所担心的，就是我们的世界和其中的所有人都注定要灭亡。但更深远的是，这本书是关于超越现世的盼望。它展现了上帝是如何无限大地超越邪恶。新创造快要显现的异象在这本书中赐给我们，启示录把我们拉向我们在基督里的蒙福和盼望。权能和荣耀归给祂，世世代代！

当称颂的救赎主啊，帮助我们持守这些圣言，也靠此战胜罪恶，死亡和魔鬼。愿我们与地上和天上的全教会继续满怀信心和喜乐盼望祈祷，“来，主耶稣！快来！”阿们。