157# 既然“人的灵”指代人的心智，圣言中屡次提及的“在灵里”，便是指心智与身体相分离的状态。众先知都是在这种状态下，看见了属灵世界中存在的事物，因此这种状态被称为“上帝的异象”。他们当时所处的状态，与灵和天使在那世界中的状态相同。在这种状态中，人的灵，也就是他的心智，就视觉而言，可以从一处被移到另一处，而身体仍留在原处。我如今二十六年[ 1745年至1771年 ]来一直处于这种状态；所不同的是，我是在灵里，同时也在身体里，只是有时才在身体之外。
以西结、撒迦利亚、但以理，以及撰写启示录时的约翰，都曾处于这种状态，这从以下经文可以看出。
以西结说：“灵将我举起，在异象中借着上帝的灵将我带进迦勒底地，到被掳的人那里；我所见的异象就离我上升去了”（结11:24）。经文又记载，灵将他举起，他听见身后有震动轰轰的声音（结3:12、14）；灵将他举到天地中间，在上帝的异象中带他到耶路撒冷，使他看见其中各样可憎之事（结8:3以下）；他又看见四个活物，就是基路伯，以及它们那里种种事物（结1章；10章）；还看见新地和新殿，以及量度它们的天使（结40—48章）。经文也写明，他当时是在异象中，并且在灵里（结40:2；43:5）。⁴
撒迦利亚也有相同的经历；当时有天使在他里面。他看见一人骑马，站在洼地番石榴树中间（亚1:8以下）；又看见四角，以及手拿准绳的人（亚1:18；2:1以下）；又看见大祭司约书亚（亚3:1以下）；灯台和两棵橄榄树（亚4:1以下）；飞行的书卷和量器（亚5:1、6）；四辆车从两山中间出来，并有马（亚6:1以下）。
但以理也曾处于相似的状态中。他看见四个大兽从海中上来，并看见关于它们的许多事（但7:1以下）；又看见公绵羊和公山羊相斗（但8:1以下）。他自述是在异象（在灵里）中看见这些事（但7:1、2、7、13；8:2；10:1、7、8）；天使加百列也在异象中向他显现，并与他说话（但9:21）。
写下启示录时的约翰也是如此。他说：“当主日，我被圣灵感动（在灵里）”（启1:10）；又说自己“在灵里”被带到旷野（启17:3），并“在灵里”被带到一座高大的山上（启21:10）。[ 启1:10、17:3、21:10中，和合本均译为“被圣灵感动”；但拉丁文及希腊文原意均为“在灵里”。]他还说自己在异象中看见马（启9:17）。此外，在别处，他也记述自己所看见的景象：人子在七个金灯台中间；天上的帐幕、殿、约柜和坛；用七印封严的书卷，以及从其中出来的马；宝座周围的四活物；以色列各支派中各有一万二千被拣选的人；羔羊站在锡安山上；蝗虫从无底坑里上来；龙以及龙与米迦勒的争战；妇人生了一个男孩子，又因龙的缘故逃到旷野；两个兽，一个从海中上来，一个从地中上来；妇人骑在朱红色的兽上；龙被扔在硫磺的火湖里；白马和大筵席；圣城新耶路撒冷降下，并且城门、城墙和墙的根基被一一描述；生命水的河，以及每月结果子的生命树；此外还有许多事。
157# 由于人的灵是指他的心智，所以“在灵里”（在圣言中，经上有时用这个短语）是指一种与身体分离的心智状态；由于在这种状态下，先知们看到了诸如存在于灵界中的那类事物，所以这种状态被称为“神的异象”。那时，他们的状态就像灵界中灵人和天使自己的状态。在这种状态下，人的灵就像心智的眼睛一样，可以从一个地方转到另一个地方，而与此同时，身体仍留在原来的地方。我处于这种状态到现在已经26年了；不同之处在于，我同时在灵里和身体中，只是偶尔离开身体。
以西结、撒迦利亚、但以理和写启示录时的约翰都曾处于这种状态，这一点从以下经文明显看出来。以西结书说：
灵将我举起，在神的灵里，在异象中将我带回迦勒底，到被掳的人那里。因此，我所见的异象就离我上升去了。（以西结书11:1，24）
灵将他举起，他就听见身后有地震（以西结书3:12，14）；灵将他举到天地之间，带他到耶路撒冷，他看到可憎的事（以西结书8:3等）；他看见四个活物，即基路伯，以及与它们同在的各种事物（以西结书1章和10章）；又看见一个新地和一个新殿，以及一位量它们的天使（以西结40-48章）。那时，他在异象中，在灵里（以西结书40:2; 43:5）。
撒迦利亚也是如此，那时有一位天使与他同在，当时他看见，一个人骑着马，站在桃金娘树中间（撒迦利亚书1:8等）；四角，一个手拿准绳的人（撒迦利亚书1:18; 2:1，5等）；大祭司约书亚（撒迦利亚书3:1等）；灯台和两棵橄榄树（撒迦利亚书4:1-3）；一飞行的书卷和一个量器（撒迦利亚书5:1，6）；从两山中间出来的四辆车，以及马匹（撒迦利亚书6:1-3）。但以理在看见以下事物时也处于类似状态，即：从海中上来的四个大兽，以及关于它们的许多事物（但以理7:1-8）；公绵羊与公山羊之间的战斗（但以理8:1-14）；这一切都是他在异象中看到的（但以理7:1，2，7，13; 8:2; 10:1，7，8）；天使加百列在异象中向他显现，并与他交谈（但以理9:21）。
当约翰写启示录时，同样的事发生在他身上；他说，当主日，他在灵里（启示录1:10）；他在灵里被带到旷野（启示录17:3）；他在灵里被带到一座高山上（启示录21:10）；他在异象中观看（启示录9:17）。在别的地方，他看到他所描述的事物；如他看见人子在七灯台中间；天上的圣所、圣殿、约柜和祭坛；被七印封住的书卷，有马从中出来；宝座周围的四活物；来自每个支派的一万二千选民；锡安山上的羔羊；从深渊里飞上来的蝗虫；龙，以及他与米迦勒的争战；妇人生了一个男孩子，由于龙而逃到旷野；两只兽，一个从海里上来，一个从地里上来；一个女人骑在朱红色的兽上；龙被扔进火与硫磺的湖里；白马和大祭筵；降下的圣城耶路撒冷，以及他所描述的城门、城墙和根基；生命水的河，每月都结果子的生命树；以及其它许多事物。当彼得、雅各和约翰看到耶稣变了形像时，他们处于类似状态；当保罗从天上听到不可思议的事时，他也处于类似状态。
157. Since our spirit means our mind, therefore "being in the spirit," as the Word sometimes says, refers to the state of our mind when it is separated from our body. In this state the prophets saw the sort of things that exist in the spiritual world; therefore this state is called "a vision of God. " At those times, the prophets' state was like the state of spirits and angels in the spiritual world. In this state our spirit can move from place to place while our body stays where it is (as is also true of our mind's eye).
This is the state I myself have been in now for twenty-six years, with the difference that I am in my spirit and my body at the same time, and only sometimes out of my body.
Ezekiel, Zechariah, Daniel, and John (when he wrote the Book of Revelation) were in this state, as is clear from the following passages: Ezekiel said, "The spirit lifted me up and led me into Chaldea to the captivity in the vision of God, in the spirit of God. In this way the vision that I saw came over me" (Ezekiel 11:1, 24). The spirit lifted Ezekiel up and he heard the earth tremble behind him (Ezekiel 3:12, 14). The spirit lifted him up between earth and heaven, and led him away to Jerusalem where he saw abominable things (Ezekiel 8:3-4). He saw four creatures that were angel guardians and various details about them (Ezekiel 1 and 10). Then he saw a new earth in the form of a new temple, and an angel measuring the temple (Ezekiel 40-48). At that time he was in a vision and in the spirit (Ezekiel 40:2; 43:5).
[2] The same thing happened to Zechariah when an angel was with him and he saw a man riding among the myrtle trees (); when he saw four horns and a man who had a string in his hand for measuring (Zechariah 1:18; 2:1-2); when he saw Joshua the high priest (Zechariah 3:1, 6); and when he saw four chariots with horses headed off between two mountains (Zechariah 6:1-3).
Daniel was in the same state when he saw four beasts rising up out of the sea, and many details about them (Daniel 7:1-8); and when he saw battles between a ram and a goat (Daniel 8:1-14). He was in a vision when he saw those things (Daniel 7:1-2, 7, 13; 8:2; 10:1, 7-8). In a vision he saw the angel Gabriel and spoke with him [].
[3] The same thing happened to John when he wrote the Book of Revelation. He said he was in the spirit on the Lord's day (Revelation 1:10); he was carried off into the wilderness in the spirit (Revelation 17:3); and he was on a high mountain in the spirit (Revelation 21:10). He was seeing things in a vision (Revelation 9:17).
Elsewhere [in the Book of Revelation] he says that he saw the things he described. For example, he saw the Son of Humankind in the middle of seven lampstands. He saw a tabernacle, a temple, an ark, and an altar in heaven; a book sealed with seven seals and horses that came out of it; four creatures around a throne; twelve thousand chosen people, some from every tribe; a lamb on Mount Zion; locusts rising up from an abyss; a dragon and its war with Michael; a woman giving birth to a male child and running away into a desert because of the dragon; two beasts, one rising up out of the sea and another out of the land; a woman sitting on a scarlet beast; a dragon thrown into a lake of fire and sulfur; a white horse and a great supper; the holy city Jerusalem coming down, with details of its entrances, its wall, and the wall's foundations; a river of living water; and trees of life producing different types of fruit every month; and so on.
Peter, James, and John were in the same state when they saw Jesus transfigured, as was Paul when he heard ineffable things from heaven.
157. Since a person's spirit means his mind, 'being in the spirit', a phrase which occurs a number of times in the Word, means the state in which the mind is separated from the body. That was the state the Prophets were in when they saw the kind of things which happen in the spiritual world, so it is called 'the vision of God.' They were then in the same state as that of the spirits and angels of that world. In that state a person's spirit, as the visual capacity of his mind, can be transported from place to place while his body remains in one place. This is the state in which I have been for the last twenty-six years, with the difference that I have been simultaneously in the spirit and in the body, and only at times outside the body. Ezekiel, Zechariah, Daniel and John the writer of Revelation were evident from the following passages.
Ezekiel says: 'A spirit lifted me up, and brought me back to Chaldaea to the captives in a vision, in the spirit of God; so the vision which I had seen went up from me' (Ezekiel 11:1, 24). A spirit lifted him up and he heard behind him an earthquake (Ezekiel 3:12, 14). A spirit lifted him up between earth and heaven, and carried him off to Jerusalem, and he saw abominations (Ezekiel 8:3ff). He saw four creatures, which were Cherubim, and various sights with them (Ezek. chapters 1, 10); also a new earth and a new temple, and an angel measuring them (Ezek. chapters 40-48). He was then in receipt of a vision and in the spirit (Ezekiel 40:2; 13:5).
[2] Similar things happened to Zechariah, when he was with an angel and saw a man riding a horse among myrtles (Zechariah 1:8ff); four horns [Zechariah 1:18] and a man with a measuring line in his hand (Zechariah 2:1, 5ff); Joshua the high priest (Zechariah 3:1ff); four chariots coming out between two mountains, and their horses (Zechariah 6:1ff). Daniel was in the same state when he saw four beasts coming up out of the sea and various other details about them (Daniel 7:1ff); the fights between a ram and a he-goat (Daniel 8:1ff). He saw these things in a vision (Daniel 7:1-2, 7, 13; 8:2; 10:1, 7-8); the angel Gabriel appeared to him in a vision and spoke with him (Daniel 9:21).
[3] It was the same with John when he wrote Revelation. He says that he was in the spirit on the Lord's day (Revelation 1:10); that he was carried in the spirit into the desert (Revelation 17:3); onto a high mountain in the spirit (Revelation 21:10); that he saw [horses] in a vision (Revelation 9:17). Elsewhere he says that he saw what he described, as for instance the Son of Man in the midst of the seven lampstands; a tabernacle, a temple, an ark and an altar in heaven; a book sealed with seven seals, and horses that came out of it; four creatures around the throne; twelve thousand chosen from each tribe; then the Lamb upon Mount Zion; locusts coming up from the abyss; the dragon and his battle with Michael; a woman bearing a son, and fleeing into the desert because of the dragon; two beasts, one coming up from the sea, the other from the earth; a woman sitting on a scarlet beast; the dragon cast out into a lake of fire and brimstone; a white horse and a great banquet; the Holy City of Jerusalem coming down, with a description of its gates, wall and the foundations of the wall; a river of living water, and trees of life which bear fruit in every month; and much else besides. Peter, James and John were in a similar state when they saw Jesus transfigured; and so was Paul when he heard from heaven things past telling.
157. As man's spirit means his mind, therefore "being in the spirit" (a phrase sometimes used in the Word) means a state of mind separate from the body; and because in that state the prophets saw such things as exist in the spiritual world it is called "a vision of God." The prophets were then in a state like that of spirits and angels themselves in that world. In that state man's spirit like his mind in regard to sight, may be transferred from place to place, the body remaining meanwhile in its own place. This is the state in which I have now been for twenty-six years, with the difference, that I am in the spirit and in the body at the same time, and only at times out of the body. That Ezekiel, Zachariah, Daniel, and John when he wrote the Apocalypse, were in that state is evident from the following passages. Ezekiel says:
The spirit lifted me up, and brought me back in vision in the spirit of God into Chaldea, to the captivity. So the vision that I had seen went up from me (Ezek.11:1, 11:24).
That the spirit lifted him up, and he heard behind him an earthquake (Ezek.3:12, 3:14).
That the spirit lifted him up between earth and heaven and brought him to Jerusalem, and he saw abominations (Ezekiel8:3).
That he saw four living creatures that were cherubim, and various things with them (Ezekiel 1:1, 10:1
Also a new earth and a new temple, and an angel measuring them (Ezekiel40:1, 48:1).
That he was then in vision and in the spirit (Ezekiel 40:2; 43:5).
[2] It was the same with Zachariah (in whom there was then an angel) when he saw:
A man riding among the myrtle trees (Zechariah 1:8 seq.);
Four horns, and a man with a measuring line in his hand (Zechariah 1:18; 2:1, 5 seq.);
Joshua the high priest (Zechariah 3:1);
The lampstand and two olive trees (Zechariah 4:1);
A flying roll and an ephah (Zech.5:1, 6);
Four chariots going out from between two mountains, and horses (Zechariah 6:1-3).
Daniel was in a like state:
When he saw the four great beasts coming up from the sea, and many things respecting them (Daniel 7:1-12);
When he saw the battles between the ram and the he-goat (Daniel 8:1-12);
All of which he saw in vision (Daniel 7:1, 2, 7, 13; 8:2; 10:1, 7, 8); The angel Gabriel appeared to him in vision and talked with him (Daniel 9:21).
[3] The same occurred to John when he wrote the Apocalypse; he said:
That he was in the spirit on the Lord's day (1:10);
That he was carried away in the spirit into the wilderness (17:3);
Upon a high mountain in spirit (21:10);
That he saw in vision (9:17);
and elsewhere that he saw the things he described; as when he saw the Son of man in the midst of the seven lampstands; the tabernacle, the temple, the ark and the altar, in heaven; a book sealed with seven seals, and horses going out of it; four living creatures around the throne; the twelve thousand elect from each tribe; the Lamb on Mount Zion; the locusts ascending from the abyss; the dragon, and his combat with Michael; the woman bringing forth a male child, and fleeing into the desert on account of the dragon; the two beasts, one ascending out of the sea and the other out of the earth; the woman sitting upon the scarlet beast; the dragon cast into the lake of fire and brimstone; the white horse and the great supper; the holy city Jerusalem descending, the gates, walls, and foundations of which he described; the river of the water of life, and the trees of life bearing fruit every month; and many other things. Peter, James, and John were in a like state when they saw Jesus transfigured, and Paul when he heard from heaven things ineffable.
157. Since by the spirit of man is meant his mind, therefore "being in the spirit," a phrase which sometimes occurs in the Word, means a state of the mind separate from the body; and as the prophets, when in that state, saw such things as exist in the spiritual world, that state is called "the vision of God." Their state was then like that of spirits themselves and angels in that world; and in that state a man's spirit, like his mind as to sight, may be transferred from place to place, while the body remains in its own place. In this state I have now been for twenty-six years, with this difference, that I have been in the spirit and in the body at the same time, and only occasionally out of the body. Ezekiel, Zechariah, Daniel, and John when he wrote the Book of Revelation, 1 were in that state, as is evident from the following passages. Ezekiel says:
"The spirit took me up, and brought me in a vision by the Spirit of God into Chaldea, to them of the captivity. So the vision that I had seen went up from me" 11:1, 24.
The spirit took him up, and he heard behind him an earthquake, 3:12, 14.
The spirit lifted him up between the earth and the heaven, and brought him to Jerusalem, and he saw abominations Ezekiel 8:3, and following verses.
He saw four living creatures, which were cherubs, and various things with them, 1 and 10;
and a new earth, and a new temple, and an angel measuring them, 40 to 48.
That he was then in vision, and in the spirit, appears from Ezekiel 40:2, and Ezekiel 43:5.
[2] The case was the same with Zechariah, with whom there was then an angel, when he saw:
"A man riding among the myrtle-trees," 1:8, and following verses; four horns, 1:18; and a man with a measuring line in his hand, 2:1, 5; and following verses.
Joshua the high priest, 3:1; a flying roll, 5:1-6,
and four chariots and horses coming out from between two mountains 6:1, and following verses.
Daniel was in a similar state when he saw four beasts come up from the sea, and many things relating to them Daniel 7:1-3;
and when he saw the battles of the ram and the goat, Daniel 8:1 and following verses.
That he saw those things in vision is declared in Daniel 7:1-2, 7, 13; 8:2; 10:1, 7-8.
The angel Gabriel appeared to him in vision, and talked with him, Daniel 9:21.
[3] John experienced the same when he wrote the Rook of Revelation, for he says he "was in the Spirit on the Lord's day" Revelation 1:10;
that he was "carried away in the spirit into the wilderness" Revelation 17:3;
and "to a great and high mountain" in the spirit, Revelation 21:10: that he saw "in the vision," Revelation 9:17;
and in other places that "he saw" what he described, as the Son of Man in the midst of the seven candlesticks, a tabernacle, a temple, an ark and an altar in heaven; the book sealed with seven seals, and horses going out of it; four animals around the throne; the twelve thousand chosen out of each tribe; the Lamb on Mount Sion; locusts ascending from the bottomless pit; the dragon and his war with Michael; 2 the woman bringing forth a male child, and fleeing into the wilderness on account of the dragon; two beasts, one ascending out of the sea and the other out of the earth; the woman sitting upon a scarlet-colored beast; the dragon cast into a lake of fire and brimstone; a white horse and a great supper; the descent of the Holy City Jerusalem, whose gates, walls and foundations he described; the river of the water of life, and the trees of life bearing fruit every month; and many other things. Peter, James and John were in a similar state when they saw Jesus transfigured; and Paul also, when he heard ineffable words from heaven.
Footnotes:
157. Quoniam per Spiritum hominis intelligitur Mens ejus, ideo per ESSE IN SPIRITU, quod aliquoties in Verbo dicitur, intelligitur status mentis separatae a corpore, et quia in illo statu Prophetae viderunt talia, quae in Mundo Spirituali existunt, ideo vocatur ille Visio Dei; status ille fuit tunc illis, qualis est ipsis Spiritibus et Angelis in illo Mundo; in illo statu spiritus hominis, sicut mens ejus quoad visum, transferri potest e loco in locum, manente corpore in suo. Hic status est, in quo ego nunc per 26 annos fueram, cum discrimine, quod in spiritu et simul in corpore, et modo aliquoties extra corpus. Quod Ezechiel, Sacharias, Daniel, et Johannes cum scripsit Apocalypsin, in illo statu fuerint, constat ex sequentibus; dicit EZECHIEL, "Spiritus sustulit me, et reduxit me in Chaldaeam ad Captivitatem in VISIONE DEI, in SPIRITU DEI, ita ascendit super me VISIO, quam vidi," 11:1, 24. Quod sustulerit illum Spiritus, et audiverit post se terrae motum, 3:12, 14. Quod sustulerit illum Spiritus inter Terram et Coelum, et abduxerit Hierosolymam, et viderit abominationes, 8:3, seq. Quod viderit quatuor Animalia, quae erant Cherubi, et varia apud illos, Cap. 1 et Cap. 10: Tum novam Terram et novum Templum, et Angelum metientem illa, Cap. 40 ad 48, quod tunc fuerit in Visione et in Spiritu, Cap. 40:2; 43:5. 1
[2] Simile factum est cum SACHARIA, cum 2 quo tunc Angelus fuit, cum vidit Virum equitantem inter myrtos, Cap. 1:8. seq. Quatuor cornua, et virum in cujus manu funiculus mensurae, 3 [Cap. 1:18,] Cap. 2:1, 5, seq. Joschuam Sacerdotem magnum, [Cap. 3:1, seqq. Volumen volans et epham,] Cap. 5:1, 6. Quatuor Currus exeuntes inter duos montes, et Equos, Cap. 6:1, seq. In simili statu fuit DANIEL, cum vidit quatuor Bestias ascendentes ex mari, et plura de illis, Cap. 7:1, seq., cum vidit Pugnas arietis et hirci, Cap. 8:1, seq. Quod viderit illa in Visione, Cap. 7:1-2, 7, 13; 8:2; 10:1, 7-8. Quod Angelus Gabriel visus ei sit in Visione, et loquutus cum illo[, Cap. 9:21].
[3] Simile factum est cum JOHANNE, quando scripsit Apocalypsin, qui dicit se fuisse in Spiritu die Dominica, Apocalypsis 1:10 quod delatus in desertum in Spiritu, Cap. 17:3, super montem altum in Spiritu, Cap. 21:10. Quod viderit in Visione, Cap. 9:17: et alibi, quod Viderit illa quae descripsit, ut cum vidit Filium hominis in medio septem candelabrorum; Tabernaculum, Templum, Arcam et Altare in Coelo: Librum obsignatum septem sigillis, 4 et ex illo exeuntes Equos: quatuor Animalia circa Thronum: 12000 Electos, ex unaquavis Tribu; Agnum tunc super Monte Sionis: Locustas ascendentes ex abysso; Draconem et ejus pugnam cum Michaele: Mulierem parientem filium masculum, ac fugientem in desertum propter Draconem: Bestias duas, unam ascendentem ex mari, et alteram ex terra: Mulierem sedentem super Bestia coccinea: Draconem ejectum in stagnum ignis et sulphuris: Equum album et Caenam magnam: Urbem Sanctam Hierosolymam descendentem, descriptam quoad portas, murum et hujus fundamenta; Fluvium aquae vivae, et arbores vitae facientes fructus quovis mense; praeter plura. In simili statu fuerunt Petrus, Jacobus et Johannes, cum viderunt Jesum transformatum; et Paulus cum audivit e Coelo ineffabilia.
Footnotes:
1. Prima editio: Cap. 43:15.
2. Prima editio: in.
3. Prima editio: men urea.
4. Prima editio: sigillis.