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出埃及记生命读经 · 第151篇

金香坛（五）

The golden incense altar (5)
1读经： 出埃及记三十章六至十节，二十六至二十八节；四十章五节，二十六至二十七节；诗篇八十四篇三节；一百四十一篇二节；启示录八章三至六节。
1Scripture Reading: Exo. 30:6-10, 26-28; 40:5, 26-27; Psa. 84:3; 141:2; Rev. 8:3-6
代求的基督
Christ interceding
2在旧约里，最深的豫表也许就是出埃及记三十章里的香坛。即使我们照着表面来看一下这个豫表，我们也会了解这个豫表与祷告有关。不论在旧约里，或是在新约里，献给神的香都是表征我们向祂的祷告。所以我们读圣经的时候，就能晓得金香坛定规是在一些方面与祷告有关。
2The deepest type of the types in the Old Testament may be the incense altar in Exodus 30. If we consider this type even superficially, we shall see that it is related to prayer. Both in the Old Testament and in the New Testament incense offered to God signifies our prayer to Him. Therefore, in our reading of the Bible, we can realize that the golden altar of incense must in some way be related to prayer.
3倘若我们更深地探讨这件事，我们就会看见，事实上香坛不是说到我们的祷告，而是说到基督的祷告，因为香坛就是基督身位的豫表。香坛豫表基督这个人，不是豫表祂的祷告。香坛是表征基督在祷告，基督在代求。
3If we consider this matter in a deeper way, we shall see that actually the incense altar does not refer to our prayer. Rather, it refers to the prayer of Christ, for the altar itself is a type of the Person of Christ. It is not a type of Christ’s prayer. The incense altar typifies Christ the Person, not His prayer. It signifies Christ praying, Christ interceding.
4个别的基督复活以后，尤其在升天以后，就成了团体的。因此今天在神面前，不仅个别的基督在代求；团体的基督，元首同身体，也在代求。元首基督在天上代求，而身体教会在地上代求。所以代求者不仅仅是基督自己，更是基督同着祂的身体。如果我们明了这一点，我们就会看见香坛所表征的乃是极其深奥的事。
4The individual Christ after His resurrection, and especially after His ascension, has become corporate. Thus, today before God not only is the individual Christ interceding, but the corporate Christ, the Head with the Body, is interceding as well. Christ the Head is interceding in the heavens, and the church the Body is interceding on earth. The intercessor, therefore, is not merely Christ Himself, but is Christ with His Body. If we realize this, we shall see that what is signified by the incense altar is something very deep.
一个深奥的观念
A deep concept
5如果你参考第一百四十七篇所附的图表，你就会看见香坛位于帐幕里面。然而，第一座坛─燔祭坛，是在帐幕外面，在外院子里。香坛的意义比燔祭坛的还要深。我们 已经指出，帐幕清楚而明确地表征我们能彀进入的神自己。此外，香坛既然在帐幕里面，凡要在香坛那里祷告的人，定规是在帐幕里面。这里的观念很深。我们说香坛的意义很深奥，原因就在这里。在本篇信息里，我们要尽力说到与这坛深奥意义有关的一些细节。
5If you consult the diagram printed in message one hundred forty-seven, you will see that the incense altar was located inside the tabernacle. The first altar, the altar of burnt offering, however, was outside the tabernacle, in the outer court. The significance of the incense altar is deeper than that of the altar of burnt offering. As we have pointed out, the tabernacle signifies clearly and definitely God Himself into whom we may enter. Furthermore, since the incense altar is in the tabernacle, whoever would pray at the incense altar must be inside the tabernacle. The concept here is deep. This is the reason we say that the significance of the incense altar is profound. In this message we shall try to cover some of the details related to the depths of the significance of this altar.
6帐幕和外院子有两座坛：金香坛和燔祭坛。帐幕里的香坛是为着祷告，而外院子里的燔祭坛是为着献祭。
6With the tabernacle and the outer court there are two altars: the altar of burnt offering and the golden altar of incense. The incense altar in the tabernacle is for prayer, and the altar of burnt offering in the outer court is for offering sacrifices.
7假设一个罪人到外院子的祭坛来献赎罪祭或赎愆祭，这样的人岂不会祷告么？不错，他的确会祷告。然而那样的祷告─在外院子的祭坛所有的祷告，是肤浅的，因为它是在神以外献上的。这不是在神里面献上的祷告。今天许多基督徒只晓得这样肤浅地祷告，他们只晓得根据基督在十字架上所流的血来祷告。很少基督徒懂得如何在香坛那里献上祷告。
7Suppose a sinner came to offer a sin offering or a trespass offering at the altar in the outer court. Would not such a person pray? Yes, he surely would pray. However, that kind of prayer, the prayer at the altar in the outer court, is shallow, for it is offered outside of God. It is not the prayer offered in God. Today many Christians know only to pray this kind of shallow prayer. They know only to pray on the basis of the blood of Christ shed on the cross. Not many believers know how to pray the kind of prayer that is offered at the incense altar.
8在第一座坛祷告的基本条件或要求，乃是献上基督作我们的代替，或是为我们的罪作赎罪祭，或是为我们的过犯作赎愆祭。这意思是说，我们凭着钉十字架的那位来祷告，祂为着救赎我们而流出血来。如果我们的祷告不往前迈进一步，我们能彀向神祷告，但我们不是在神里面祷告。向神祷告是一回事，而在神里面祷告就深得多了。我们都必须看见这是一件极其要紧的事。
8The primary condition or requirement for praying at the first altar is that we offer Christ as our substitute, either as the sin offering for our sin or as the trespass offering for our trespasses. This means that we pray by Him as the crucified One who shed His blood for our redemption. If our prayer goes no farther than this, we can pray to God, but we do not pray in God. To pray to God is one thing, but to pray in God is something much deeper. This is a very important matter that we all need to see.
9我盼望我们在本篇信息里能彀看见更深的事，经历上的事。我不愿仅仅在道理上来看香坛，本篇信息也不仅仅是出埃及记三十章的查经。所以我盼望主给我们看见与金香坛有关更深奥的事。
9I hope that in this message we shall see something deeper, something experiential. I do not want to consider the incense altar merely in a doctrinal way. This message is not simply a Bible study on Exodus 30. Therefore, I hope that the Lord will show us something deeper related to the golden altar of incense.
10我年轻的时候，参加过南浸信会、中国长老会、弟兄会。我到那些地方去的年间，听见许多的祷告含有“藉着主耶稣的宝血”这句话。但我不记得曾经听见一个祷告结束于“在主耶稣的名里”这句话。那些祷告是在外院子的祭坛献上的，不是在香坛献上的，因为那样祷告的人，在祷告生活上相当肤浅。他们还没有进入更深的生命或内里的生命中。藉着基督在十字架上所流的血来祷告是肤浅的，但在香坛那里的祷告却是深奥的。
10When I was young, I attended the Southern Baptist Church, the Chinese Presbyterian Church, and the Brethren assembly. During the years I went to those places, I heard many prayers that concluded with the words, “through the precious blood of the Lord Jesus.” But I do not remember ever hearing a prayer ending with the words, “in the name of the Lord Jesus.” Those prayers were offered at the altar in the outer court, not at the incense altar, because those who prayed in that way were rather shallow in their prayer life. They had not entered into the deeper life or the inner life. To pray through the blood of Christ at the cross is shallow, but to pray at the incense altar is deep.
血与火
The blood and the fire
11香坛主要是藉着赎罪祭的血与燔祭坛相联结。首先赎罪祭的血在外院子的祭坛那里流出来，然后血被带到香坛并洒在坛上，其余的血要倒在燔祭坛脚那里。因此，救赎的血把两座坛联结起来。这表明在香坛那里献给神的祷告，应当根据第一座坛的经历。我们一旦经历了第一座坛，就会有根据、有标准、有立场，来到第二座坛祷告。
11The incense altar was connected to the altar of burnt offering mainly by the blood of the sin offering. First the blood of the sin offering was shed at the altar in the outer court. Then it was brought to the incense altar and sprinkled on it. The remainder of the blood was poured out at the base of the altar of burnt offering. Hence, the redeeming blood joined the two altars. This indicates that the prayer offered to God at the incense altar should be based on the experience at the first altar. Once we have experienced the first altar, we shall have the base, the standard, the ground, to come to the second altar to pray.
12这两座坛也是藉着火联结起来的。在外院子祭坛上焚烧的火，要用来焚烧帐幕里香坛上的香。因此，这两座坛是由血与火联结起来的。
12The two altars were also connected by fire. The fire that burned on the altar in the outer court was used to burn the incense at the incense altar in the tabernacle. The two altars, therefore, were connected by both the blood and the fire.
13血表征我们的罪与过犯都受了对付。罪已经除去了，过犯也已经被担当了。血向我们证实了这件事。在这件事上，没有留下甚么给我们去作。血已经解决了罪与过犯的难处。
13The blood signifies that our sin and trespasses have all been dealt with. Sin has been taken away, and the trespasses have been borne away. The blood gives us the assurance of this. Concerning this, there is nothing left for us to do. The blood has solved the problem of sin and of trespasses.
减少成灰
Reduced to ashes
14然而火表明甚么呢？火表明凡我们所是的都必须减少成灰。我们必须被焚烧，以致成灰。
14But what does the fire indicate? The fire indicates that whatever we are needs to be reduced to ashes. We need to be burned so that we become ashes.
15有些基督徒，尤其是我们在主恢复里的人，常常说到天然。只有一条路叫我们不天然，那条路就是把我们焚烧成灰。如果你没有被焚烧，你就还是天然的。假设你面前有一张木桌，这张桌子就是个天然的形态。但我们把这张桌子焚烧成为一堆灰烬的话，它就不再是天然的了。这说明了一个事实：当某件东西焚烧成灰时，它就不再是天 然的了。
15Certain Christians, especially those of us in the Lord’s recovery, often speak about being natural. There is only one way for us not to be natural, and that way is for us to be burned to ashes. If you have not been burned, you are still natural. Suppose you have a wooden table in front of you. That table exists in its natural state. But if the table is burned and becomes a heap of ashes, it is no longer natural. This illustrates the fact that when something is burned to ashes, it is no longer natural.
16我不是凭自己妄言，所有在基督里的信徒都必须成为灰烬。这是主的愿望，不是我的愿望。有些人听见主耶稣要把我们焚烧成灰，也许会说：“基督是因着焚烧被减少成灰的一位，祭坛上的火是焚烧祂，不是焚烧我。”然而我们必须记得，照着豫表来看，献祭的人要按手在祭牲的头上，因而与祭牲联合。这意思是说，祭牲包含了献祭的人。当基督在十字架上死了，我们也在祂里面死了，因为我们包含在祂里面。至少可以说，当我们相信祂的时候，我们就按手在祂身上。相信基督就是按手在祂身上。因此，我们既然与那位被焚烧成灰的基督合而为一，我们也就被焚烧成灰了。
16I do not presume to say of myself that all believers in Christ need to become ashes. This is the Lord’s desire, not mine. When some hear that the Lord Jesus wants us to be burned to ashes, they may say, “Christ is the One who is reduced to ashes by burning. The fire at the altar burns Him; it does not burn me.” We need to remember, however, that according to typology the offerer laid his hands upon the sacrifice and thus identified himself with that sacrifice. This means that the sacrifice includes the one offering it. When Christ died on the cross, we died in Him, for we were included in Him. To say the least, when we believed in Him, we laid our hands on Him. To believe in Christ is to lay our hands on Him. Therefore, since we are one with the Christ who has been burned to ashes, we also are burned to ashes.
17有些人也许会问：“如果我们被焚烧成灰，我们怎能活着呢？”保罗在加拉太二章二十节答覆说：“我已经与基督同钉十字架；现在活着的。不再是我，乃是基督在我里面活着。”基督的死带来了复活。如今我们在基督里，就在复活里，并且现在活着的，不再是我们，乃是基督在我们里面活着。然而，对大多数的基督徒来说，加拉太二章二十节不过是个道理。他们在实际上没有多少的经历。
17Some may ask, “If we are burned to ashes, how shall we be able to live?” Paul gives the answer in Galatians 2:20: “I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.” Christ’s death brings in resurrection. Now in Christ we are in resurrection, and it is no longer we who live, but Christ lives in us. However, for most Christians, Galatians 2:20 is merely doctrine. They do not have much experience of it in a practical way.
18在前面的信息里我们曾指出，由赎罪祭能彀看见三样东西：血、灰以及升到神那里去的馨香之气。血和灰与我们有关，而馨香之气是为着神的满足。感谢主，今天我们有血作表记和证实，说出我们的罪与过犯都受了对付。我们也有灰作为我们已经被钉十字架，被了结的表记。当我们成为灰时，我们就不再是天然的人了。反之，我们是被钉十字架、被了结、被焚烧的人。我们不再是天然的人，我们已经成为一堆灰烬。然而，对我们大多数的人来说，这仅仅在道理上是这样，在经历上却还没有成为事实。因此我们必须往前，真有被减少成灰的经历。
18In a foregoing message we pointed out that with the sin offerings we can see three things: the blood, the ashes, and the sweet savor ascending to God. The blood and the ashes are related to us, whereas the sweet savor is for God’s satisfaction. Thank the Lord that today we have the blood as the sign and assurance that our sin and our trespasses have all been dealt with. We also have the ashes as a sign that we have been crucified, terminated. When we become ashes, we are no longer a natural person. Instead, we are a person who has been crucified, terminated, burned. No longer are we a natural man — we have become a heap of ashes. Nevertheless, for most of us this is true only doctrinally; it is not yet true experientially. Therefore, we need to go on to have the experience of actually being reduced to ashes.
19可惜许多基督徒只知道十字架上所流的血，他们不晓得十字架那里也有火。在这些信徒身上有血，但没有灰。他们还是天然的，没有经过焚烧。他们实在还没有成为灰。那么这样的信徒怎样才能在帐幕里的金香坛那里祷告呢？答案乃是说，他们根本不可能在那里祷告。
19It is unfortunate that many Christians know only the blood that was shed at the cross. They do not realize that at the cross there is also fire. With these believers there is the blood, but no ashes. They remain natural, unburned. They surely have not become ashes. How, then, can such believers pray at the golden altar of incense in the tabernacle? The answer is that it is impossible for them to pray there.
20我们相信主耶稣，向神承认我们的罪时，就是向神祷告。但我们是在第一座坛那里肤浅地祷告。因我们只是为着自己祷告，这种祷告就不能当作代求。这乃是为着我们的光景而有的个人祷告，不是为着别人而有的代求。在第一座坛无法代求；代求必须在第二座坛。但谁能在第二座坛祷告呢？凡在第二座坛祷告的人首先必须被焚烧成灰；也就是说，他们必须不再是个天然的人。凡要在香坛那里祷告的人都必须成为一堆灰烬。
20When we believed in the Lord Jesus and confessed our sins to God, we prayed to Him. But we prayed at the first altar in a shallow way. Because we prayed only for ourselves, that prayer cannot be regarded as intercessory prayer. It was a personal prayer for our situation; it was not an intercession for others. Intercession cannot be made at the first altar; it must be made at the second altar. But who can pray at the second altar? Those who pray at the second altar must first be burned to ashes; that is, they must no longer be a natural person. Every one who would pray at the incense altar must become a heap of ashes.
21如果我们进到帐幕里，我们不能直接到香坛那里去。我们已经指明，首先我们必须到陈设饼桌子面前，然后到灯台那里，以后就到至圣所里见证的柜面前。那时我们才豫备好在香坛面前来代求。
21If we come into the tabernacle, we cannot go directly to the incense altar. As we have already indicated, first we must go to the showbread table, then to the lampstand, and after that to the ark of testimony in the Holy of Holies. Only then shall we be ready to come to intercede at the incense altar.
我们的行为、眼光、美德
Our conduct, sight, and virtue
22我们的行为与基督作生命（陈设饼桌子上的饼）相对，我们的眼光与基督作我们的光（灯台）相对，我们的美德与基督作我们献给神的香（香坛）相对。我们的行为、眼光和美德加在一起就等于我们天然的人，这个天然的人与作神见证（约柜）的基督相对。如果我们成了一堆灰烬，我们还会有天然的行为、天然的眼光、天然的美德么？当然没有。一堆灰烬里甚么行为、眼光或美德都没有。一堆灰烬有甚么？甚么都没有。被减少成灰就是被减少成为无有，成为零。
22Our conduct is versus Christ as life (the bread of the presence table, the showbread table). Our sight is versus Christ as our light (the lampstand). Our virtue is versus Christ as our incense to God (the incense altar). Our conduct, our sight, and our virtue together equal our natural being, which is versus Christ as God’s testimony (the ark). If we have become a heap of ashes, will we still have our natural conduct, our natural sight, and our natural virtue? Certainly not. A heap of ashes does not have any conduct, sight, or virtue. What does a heap of ashes have? It has nothing. To be reduced to ashes is to be reduced to nothing, to zero.
23只要我们以为自己是甚么，我们就不是在帐幕里面，而是在帐幕外面。你记得帐幕表征甚么？帐幕乃是表征道成肉身的神。因此，在帐幕里就是在神里面。现在我们必须晓得，在神里面的条件乃是要成为无有。我们惟有先成为零，才能在神里面。因这缘故，我愿强调这个事实：如果我们一直认为自己是甚么，就不是在神里面。但我们一成为无有，就有资格在祂里面了。
23As long as we think that we are something and regard ourselves as something, we are not in the tabernacle. Rather, we are outside the tabernacle. Do you remember what the tabernacle signifies? The tabernacle signifies the incarnated God. Thus, to be in the tabernacle is to be in God. Now we must realize that the requirement for being in God is that we become nothing. We can be in God only if we first become zero. For this reason, I wish to emphasize the fact that if we continue to think that we are something, we are not in God. But when we have become nothing, we are then qualified to be in Him.
24我们怎么晓得自己仍旧是甚么，还没有成为无有呢？因我们还有天然的行为、天然的眼光或看法，以及天然的美德。比方说，一位弟兄也许以为自己非常和蔼亲切。尤其是结了婚的弟兄，会以为自己要比妻子和蔼得多。但在帐幕里香坛面前祷告的人，对自己就不会有这种想法。在帐幕里金香坛面前祷告的人，乃是一个成灰的人。这意思是说，他不再有自己天然的美德；他天然的行为和天然的眼光也随着天然的美德成为灰烬。
24How do we know that we are still something and that we have not yet become nothing? We know it by the fact that we still have our natural conduct, our natural sight or view, and our natural virtues. For example, a brother may think of himself as being very pleasant and kind. A married brother, in particular, may regard himself as much more pleasant than his wife. But one who prays at the incense altar in the tabernacle does not think this way about himself. The one who prays in the tabernacle at the golden altar of incense is one who has become ashes. This means that he no longer has his natural virtue. Along with his natural virtue, his natural conduct and sight have become ashes.
25倘若我们还有自己的行为、天然的举止，我们就不会享受基督作我们的饼，我们也无法享受祂作生命的供应。让我向你们保证，我在这里所说的不仅仅是道理，而是我由经历中所学习到的东西。我由经历中晓得，每当我坚持天然的行为，我就没有享受基督作我生命的供应。
25If we still have our own conduct, our natural behavior, we do not enjoy Christ as our bread. We cannot enjoy Him as our life supply. Let me assure you that what I am saying here is not merely doctrine. It is something I have learned through experience. From experience I know that whenever I still hold on to my natural conduct, I do not have the enjoyment of Christ as my life supply.
26我也由经历中晓得，如果我仍然觉得我对事情有自己的眼光、自己的看法、自己的知识，我就没有基督作我的光，我也无法经历祂作我的灯台。当我不再有任何天然的眼光时，我才能经历基督作我的灯台。
26From experience I have also learned that if I still feel that I have my own sight, my own view, my own knowledge of things, I am through with Christ as my light. I cannot experience Him as my lampstand. Christ can be experienced by me as my lampstand only when I no longer have any natural sight.
27别人问我们的问题常常在我们天然的眼光、看法、知识上试验我们。假设你到我这里来问到某位弟兄或某个教会的光景，你的问题就会试验我，我的答覆也会指明我还有没有天然的眼光。倘若我持守自己的看法、眼光、知识，基督就不会成为我的灯台。但如果我没有天然的眼光，没有天然的看法，基督在我的经历中就会非常实际地成为我的灯台，祂会成为我的光。然后我就有神圣的光来代替天然的眼光。我会有属灵的光，这光就是基督自己。
27Often the questions we are asked by others test us with respect to our natural sight, view, and knowledge. Suppose you come to me and ask about a particular brother or a particular church. Your question will be a test to me, and my answer will indicate whether I still have my natural sight. If I hold to my own view, sight, and knowledge, Christ will not be my lampstand. But if I do not have my natural sight or view, Christ will become my lampstand in a very practical way in my experience. He will be my light. Then instead of natural sight, I shall have divine light. I shall have the spiritual light, and this light is Christ Himself.
28我们有太多的时候按着自己天然的眼光来看弟兄、看教会。但有些时候，我们不是凭着天然的眼光，而是凭着基督作我们的光来看事情。在第二座坛那里祷告、代求的人，乃是有属灵之光代替天然眼光的人。
28Too many times we consider the brothers or the church according to our natural sight. But sometimes we may look at matters not by our natural sight, but by Christ as our light. A person who prays, intercedes, at the second altar is one who has spiritual light in place of his natural sight.
29此外，凡在香坛那里代求的人，都有基督作他的香；他不再有天然的美德。对于这样的人，基督乃是一切。基督是他生命的供应，叫他有正当的行为；基督是他的光，叫他有真正的视力；基督也是他的美德，叫他有馨香之气升到神面前。这就是能在香坛那里祷告的人。
29Furthermore, anyone who intercedes at the incense altar has Christ as his incense. He no longer has his natural virtue. With such a person, Christ is everything. Christ is his life supply for proper conduct, Christ is his light for genuine sight, and Christ is his virtue for him to have a sweet fragrance ascending to God. This is the kind of person who can pray at the incense altar.
30我们在第一座坛─外院子的燔祭坛─那里所祷告的，无一能成为代求。然而凡我们在第二座坛─帐幕里面的金香坛─所祷告的，都是代求。在第二座坛那里，我们没有为自己祷告多少。反之，我们为神的经营祷告，为神的分赐祷告，为神的行动祷告，为神的恢复祷告，也为众教会和众圣徒祷告。我们自自然然就这样来代求。
30Nothing that we pray at the first altar, the altar of burnt offering in the outer court, can be an intercession. But whatever we pray at the second altar, the golden altar of incense in the tabernacle, will be an intercession. At the second altar we do not pray much for ourselves. Instead, we pray for God’s economy, we pray for God’s dispensation, we pray for God’s move, we pray for God’s recovery, and we pray for the churches and the saints. We intercede in this way spontaneously.
31我们在第一座坛祷告的时候，难得不被自己或自己的光景所霸占。然而，我们在第二座坛祷告的时候，却难得被自己所霸占。在香坛那里所献上的祷告不包含己，原因乃是我们要在香坛祷告，首先就必须成为灰烬。要在第二座坛代求，首先就需要把我们减至无有。反之，在第一座坛祷告的人常常为自己向神呼求。他们也许呼求主，要得祂的怜悯，并求主在各样的事上帮助他们。我们在第一座坛祷告的时候，很难在自己以外。在第一座坛的祷告满了自己，但我们来到第二座坛的时候，已经历了十字架、桌子、灯台、约柜。因我们经历了桌子，就不再有天然的行为，反倒有基督作生命的供应。因我们来到灯台面前，就不再有天然的眼光，反倒有基督作我们的光。
31When we pray at the first altar, it is very difficult to pray in such a way that we are not occupied with ourselves or our situation. However, when we pray at the second altar, it is very difficult to be occupied with ourselves. The reason self is not involved with the prayers offered at the incense altar is that in order to pray at this altar we must first become ashes. To intercede at the second altar requires that we first be reduced to nothing. By contrast, those who pray at the first altar often cry out to God concerning themselves. They may call out to the Lord for His mercy and ask Him to help them with various matters. It is very difficult to be outside of ourselves when we pray at the first altar. The prayer at this altar is full of ourselves. But by the time we come to the second altar, we have passed through the cross, the table, the lampstand, and the ark. Because we have experienced the table, we no longer have our natural conduct. Instead, we have Christ as our life supply. Because we have come to the lampstand, we no longer have our natural sight. Instead, we have Christ as our light.
32现在我们必须看见我们来到约柜面前所经历的。约柜表征基督是神的见证，与我们天然的人相对，我们天然的人是由分隔圣所与至圣所的幔子来表征。我们必须牢记，幔子就是我们天然的人，这幔子与约柜相对。我们天然的人是由我们的行为、眼光和美德组成的。这天然的人就是幔子，与作神见证的基督相对。
32Now we must see what we experience when we come to the ark. The ark signifies Christ as God’s testimony, which is versus our natural being, signified by the veil separating the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies. We need to be impressed that the veil is our natural being and that this veil is versus the ark. Our natural being is a composition of our conduct, our sight, and our virtue. This natural being is the veil that is versus Christ as God’s testimony.
33从前你晓不晓得遮盖约柜的幔子与约柜相对，而且幔子是表征你天然的人么？这里有四件事：天然的行为、天然的眼光、天然的美德，以及这三件事的组成，就是我们天然的人。
33Have you ever before realized that the veil covering the ark is versus the ark and that it signifies your natural being? Here we have four matters: our natural conduct, our natural sight, our natural virtue, and, the composition of these three, our natural being.
34让我们假设这里有一位举止如绅士的弟兄，他真是一个好丈夫，也是一个好父亲。此外，他还有天然的眼光，而且知识似乎也很渊博，他也满了美德。许多人会认为这样的弟兄是个杰出的基督徒，因他满了好的行为、眼光和美德。然而，这样的基督徒完全是天然的；他照着天然的人而活。结果他就无法在帐幕里面，到香坛面前祷告。只要他自认为是个好人，他就远离了帐幕。很肯定的，他不在神里面。
34Let us suppose that a certain brother behaves himself as a gentleman. He is a very good husband and father. Furthermore, he has natural sight and seems to have vast knowledge. He is also full of virtue. Many would regard such a brother as an outstanding Christian, for he is full of good behavior, sight, and virtue. However, this kind of Christian is altogether natural; he lives according to his natural being. As a result, he cannot be inside the tabernacle praying at the incense altar. As long as he regards himself as a good person, he is far away from the tabernacle. To be sure, he is not in God.
35这是我经历了多年才晓得的事。三十年前我无法释放这篇信息，因为那时我从经历中所学习的还不彀。我所听见有关香坛的教训不过是道理的。我已经表明，我所关心 的，不是仅仅在道理上来讲论香坛。我的负担乃是要看见香坛在经历上所豫表的。
35This is something I have come to know through years of experience. I could not have given this message thirty years ago, for at that time what I had learned from experience was not adequate. The teachings I had learned concerning the incense altar were merely doctrinal. As I have indicated, I do not care to speak concerning the incense altar merely in a doctrinal way. My burden is to see what the incense altar typifies in the way of experience.
36香坛所豫表的非常深奥。它表明我们若要在香坛面前代求，就必须成为灰烬；也就是说，我们必须成为无有。倘若我们已经成了灰烬，我们就没有天然的行为、天然的眼光或天然的美德。我们没有天然的行为来取代基督作我们生命的供应，没有天然的眼光来取代基督作我们的光，也没有天然的美德来取代基督作我们的香。这意思是说，我们不再是天然的了。因此在我们身上没有幔子，我们有约柜来取代幔子，就是有基督作为神的见证。结果，我们就有资格在香坛那里代求。我们已经过了帐幕的各个站口，如今可以到金香坛面前来祷告、来代求了。
36What the incense altar typifies is very deep. It indicates that if we would pray intercessory prayers at the incense altar, we must become ashes; that is, we must become nothing. If we have become ashes, we shall not have our natural conduct, our natural sight, or our natural virtue. We shall not have natural conduct replacing Christ as our life supply, we shall not have natural sight replacing Christ as our light, and we shall not have natural virtues replacing Christ as our incense. This means that we shall no longer be natural. Therefore, with us there will be no veil. In place of the veil, we shall have the ark, Christ as God’s testimony. As a result, we shall be qualified to intercede at the incense altar. Having traveled through the various stations of the tabernacle, we may now come to pray, to intercede, at the golden altar of incense.