God promises His people a good end to the story.

上帝应许祂的子民会有美好的结局。

The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. They will see his face. Revelation 22:3–4

在城里有上帝和羔羊的宝座，祂的仆人都要事奉祂，也要见祂的面。-启示录22章3-4节

As the lights dimmed and we prepared to watch Apollo 13, my friend said under his breath, “Shame they all died.” I watched the movie about the 1970 spaceflight with apprehension, waiting for tragedy to strike, and only near the closing credits did I realize I’d been duped. I hadn’t known or remembered the end of the true story—that although the astronauts faced many hardships, they made it home alive.

我们把灯光调暗，准备开始观赏1970年阿波罗13号登陆月球的影片，朋友低声说道：“可惜他们都死了！”朋友的话让我在观赏时，一直担心着悲剧的发生，直到接近尾声，才发现我被愚弄了。之前我并不清楚这件事的结局，其实真实故事的结局是太空人虽然经历千辛万苦，但最终还是安抵家门。

In Christ, we can know the end of the story—that we too will make it home alive. By that I mean we will live forever with our heavenly Father, as we see in the book of Revelation. The Lord will create a “new heaven and a new earth” as He makes all things new (21:1, 5). In the new city, the Lord God will welcome His people to live with Him, without fear and without the night. We have hope in knowing the end of the story.

在基督里，我们可以知道人生的结局，我们将会安抵天家。我的意思是，我们将永远活着，与天父同住，正如启示录所说，上帝创造一个“新天新地”，将一切都更新了（启示录21章1、5节）。在那座新城里，上帝将迎接祂的子民与祂同住，并要除去一切的惧怕和黑夜。知道了人生的结局，可以让我们心怀盼望。

What difference does this make? It can transform times of extreme difficulty, such as when people face the loss of a loved one or even their own death. Though we recoil at the thought of dying, yet we can embrace the joy of the promise of eternity. We long for the city where no longer will there be any curse, where we’ll live forever by God’s light (22:5).

那会有什么不同呢？这能让我们以不同的心境面对艰难时刻，如痛失至亲，或自己面临死亡。虽然，我们仍会畏惧死亡，但我们却能因永生的应许而欢欣喜乐。我们期盼的那座新城中没有任何咒诅，我们将在上帝的光中得享永恒的生命（22章5节）。

Lord Jesus Christ, give me unfailing hope, that I might rest in Your promises and welcome Your life eternal.

主耶稣基督，赐给我永恒的盼望，
我要因祢的应许得享安息，并与祢同享永生。

上帝应许祂的子民会有美好的结局。

Revelation 22:1-5New International Version (NIV)

Eden Restored

22 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.3 No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. 4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5 There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.

启示录 22:1-5Chinese Union Version Modern Punctuation (Simplified) (CUVMPS)

生命水和生命树

22 天使又指示我在城内街道当中一道生命水的河，明亮如水晶，从神和羔羊的宝座流出来。 2 在河这边与那边有生命树，结十二样[a]果子，每月都结果子，树上的叶子乃为医治万民。 3 以后再没有咒诅。在城里有神和羔羊的宝座，他的仆人都要侍奉他， 4 也要见他的面。他的名字必写在他们的额上。

不再有黑夜

5 不再有黑夜，他们也不用灯光、日光，因为主神要光照他们。他们要做王，直到永永远远。

整理：于姊妹