The Speciality Generality And Practicality Of The Church Life

In this series of messages we want to study the prophecy of the four 'sevens' in the Bible. If we are going to know the prophecy concerning the consummation of this present age, we need to know the truth concerning these four 'sevens.' In [the first] message we want to see the prophecy of the first 'seven,' which is the last seven years of this age spoken of as the last week of the seventy weeks in Daniel 9. The three other sets of 'sevens' are in the book of Revelation. They are the seven seals, seven trumpets, and seven bowls. Revelation may be considered as a book of prophecy constituted with these three sets of 'sevens.' The first 'seven' in Daniel 9 is related to these three sets of 'sevens' in Revelation. The prophecy of these four 'sevens' is related to the Messiah (Christ), the nation of Israel, the New Testament believers, and the church.

In the Lord’s recovery during the past five hundred years the church’s knowledge of the Lord and His truth has been continually progressing. This monumental and classical work by Brother Witness Lee builds upon and is a further development of all that the Lord has revealed to His church in the past centuries. It is filled with the revelation concerning the processed Triune God, the living Christ, the life-giving Spirit, the experience of life, and the definition and practice of the church. In this set Brother Lee has kept three basic principles that should rule and govern every believer in their interpretation, development, and expounding of the truths contained in the Scriptures. The first principle is that of the Triune God dispensing Himself into His chosen and redeemed people; the second principle is that we should interpret, develop, and expound the truths contained in the Bible with Christ for the church; and the third governing principle is Christ, the Spirit, life, and the church. No other study or exposition of the New Testament conveys the life nourishment or ushers the reader into the divine revelation of God’s holy Word according to His New Testament economy as this one does.

The Bible heralds the good news that God is dispensing Himself into His believers for their daily enjoyment. This enjoyment issues forth from abiding in the Lord and enjoying His life. This crucial truth is the subject of the apostle John's writings in the New Testament. It is mysterious, but it can be experienced!

The Normal Christian Church Life is a record of messages given during conferences held in Shanghai and Hankow. Watchman Nee spoke to his fellow workers on the principles in the New Testament concerning the practical arrangement of the churches, the ministry, and the work. In his speaking, he honestly examined his own work before the Lord in the light of these principles, provided adjustment and encouragement to his co-workers, and confirmed through personal testimony that the practice of the normal Christian church life revealed in the New Testament can be recovered.