Session 3
Part 1. Aim of the Three Stages
Through yesterday's fellowship, we know that the Lord Jesus will return in the manner of incarnation to do the work of judgment and purification of mankind. Only by accepting God's work of judgment through His words in the last days can we receive the promise of entering the kingdom of heaven given by the Lord Jesus. Some people believe that since the Lord Jesus was crucified and redeemed all of mankind, God's work of salvation has already been completed, and there is no need for any further work. Then why is there still another stage of judgment work in the last days? How many stages are there in God’s work? Why is the final stage of work of judgment and purification the most crucial one in determining mankind's destination? Today’s topic is particularly important, as it helps us understand the entire process of God's work in saving mankind and how God has led us humans step by step to this day. If we believe in the Lord but do not know the Lord, or if we only hold on to one stage of His work, it is very easy for us to resist God and condemn His work, just like the Pharisees, who confined the Lord Jesus to the law and the Old Testament, and were ultimately punished by God. So today, we will explore in detail God's management plan for saving mankind.
I. God's Management Plan Consists of Three Stages of Work to Achieve the Complete Salvation of Mankind
Brothers and sisters, we are all believers in the Lord and have read the Bible. So, how many stages of God's work are recorded in the Bible?
Someone says two stages. Everyone, is that right? Which two stages of work are they? The Old Testament and the New Testament, right?
The Old Testament records how Jehovah God issued the law—this is one stage of work. The New Testament records how the Lord Jesus was crucified as a sin offering to redeem mankind.
These are two stages of work, right?
So, after God completed these two stages of work, was His work finished? Is it all finished?
Could people be saved and caught up into God's kingdom just by believing first in Jehovah God and then in the Lord Jesus? Is that how it is?
Through our fellowship over the past few days, everyone should be clear that forgiveness of sins doesn’t mean a person no longer sins, nor does it mean they can be saved and enter the kingdom of heaven. Because man's sinful nature has not been resolved, they keep sinning and confessing again and again. Mankind, who lives in constant sin, cannot enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, it is not the case that once God completed the work of redemption, the entire work of saving mankind was finished, and man was qualified to enter the kingdom of heaven; this is absolutely impossible. Let’s think about it: Doesn’t God still need to do a stage of work to purify man's corrupt disposition? Otherwise, we corrupt humans could never escape sin and be saved. Therefore, the Lord Jesus prophesied that He would return in the last days to do another stage of work—the work of judgment and purification—to completely save man from sin.
So, how many stages does God's work actually include? The first two stages are the work of the Age of Law in the Old Testament and the work of redemption in the Age of Grace in the New Testament. And then there’s the work of judgment in the last days prophesied in the book of Revelation. So, how many stages of work is that?
— (Three stages)
That’s right, God has done three stages of work to save mankind. These three stages of work constitute the complete management plan for saving mankind. Perhaps we have much confusion and misunderstanding in our hearts: Why does God need to do three stages of work to save mankind? Why wouldn’t two stages be enough? We have such confusion and questions mainly because we do not understand God's intention in saving man. Let us take a look at two passages of words.
“The aim of the three stages of work is the salvation of all mankind—this means the complete salvation of man from the power of Satan.”
“The 6,000 years of work of God’s management are divided into three stages: the Age of Law, the Age of Grace, and the Age of Kingdom. These three stages of work are all for the sake of mankind’s salvation, which is to say, they are for the salvation of mankind that has been severely corrupted by Satan. At the same time, however, they are also so that God may do battle with Satan. Thus, just as the work of salvation is divided into three stages, so the battle with Satan is also divided into three stages, and these two aspects of God’s work are conducted simultaneously. The battle with Satan is actually for the sake of mankind’s salvation, and because the work of mankind’s salvation is not something that can be successfully completed in a single stage, the battle with Satan is also divided into phases and periods, and war is waged upon Satan in accordance with the needs of man and the extent of Satan’s corruption of him. … There are three stages to the work of man’s salvation, which is to say that the battle with Satan has been split into three stages in order to defeat Satan once and for all. Yet the inner truth of the entire work of the battle with Satan is that its effects are achieved through several steps of work: bestowing grace upon man, becoming man’s sin offering, forgiving the sins of man, conquering man, and making man perfect.”
These two passages state very clearly that God's work of saving mankind is the work of battling with Satan, done according to the needs of mankind. Through three stages of work, God saves mankind step by step from Satan's power, so that they can be completely gained by God. Ever since mankind was corrupted by Satan, sin entered the world, and because of sin, man faced death, just as the scripture says,
“For the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23).
In order to completely save mankind from sin, so that they would no longer sin and could live forever under God's care and protection, God began His six-thousand-year management plan, which is to carry out His three stages of work for saving mankind: first, to make mankind aware of sin; then, to redeem mankind's sin; and finally, to completely resolve the root of mankind's sins, that is, to rid mankind of sin. Each stage of God's work is of profound significance; they are all indispensable parts of God's management plan for saving mankind and also a necessary process for corrupt mankind to break free from sin and from Satan's influence. Next, let us fellowship in detail on how God completely saves man from Satan's power through three stages of work.
What is the purpose of God's management and what kind of result will be achieved by God's management plan?
- To save get free from sinful nature and be made pure
- Defeat satan
Part 2. Age of Law
Background: Next, I’d like to briefly describe God’s three stages of work based on His own words. First let’s talk about God’s first step of work for man’s salvation: work in the Age of Law. We all know that before God carried out His work for the Age of Law, humans were entirely naïve. They didn’t know how to worship God or how to live their lives on earth. For example, they didn’t know murdering is a sin, they didn’t know stealing something from others is a sin. Do you know who is the first murderer in human history? Cain, he killed Abel, his brother. But he didn’t know that killing is a sin. Just because of jealousy, this sinful nature, he killed his brother. To help people distance themselves from sin and live properly, God began His work of the Age of Law. Let’s read a passage of God’s words about this.
The Content and Results of the Work:
“During the Age of Law, Jehovah laid down many commandments for Moses to pass on to the Israelites who followed him out of Egypt. These commandments were given by Jehovah to the Israelites and bore no relation to the Egyptians; they were meant to restrain the Israelites, and He used the commandments to make demands of them. Whether they observed the Sabbath, whether they respected their parents, whether they worshiped idols, and so forth—these were the principles by which they were judged sinful or righteous. Among them, there were some who were struck by Jehovah’s fire, some who were stoned to death, and some who received Jehovah’s blessing, and this was determined according to whether or not they obeyed these commandments. Those who did not observe the Sabbath were stoned to death. Those priests who did not observe the Sabbath were struck by Jehovah’s fire. Those who did not show respect to their parents were also stoned to death. This was all commended by Jehovah. Jehovah established His commandments and laws so that, as He led them in their lives, the people would listen to and submit to His word and not rebel against Him. He used these laws to keep the newborn human race under control, the better to lay the foundation for His future work. And so, based on the work that Jehovah did, the first age was called the Age of Law.”
In the Age of Law, Jehovah God issued many laws and commandments, teaching mankind how to worship God and how to lead their lives. Those who followed the law gained God’s protection and blessings, while those who violated the law had to offer sacrifices for their sins to be forgiven. Otherwise they’d face God’s punishment and damnation. Those of the Age of Law personally knew God’s righteousness and wrath, His unoffendable disposition, and they knew His mercy and blessings. That’s why everyone feared Jehovah God and abided by His law and commandments. They had God’s protection and lived proper lives on earth.
【Just like a small baby, they don’t know what the y can eat, what they cannot eat. As parents, you will teach them, this is a cake, you can eat it. This is dirt, you should not eat it. That is a hot pot, you should not touch it. Hands off! These teachings will help them know what they should do and what they shouldn’t do, and it will protect them. Same as God’s first work in the Age of Law, God gave humankind a lot of laws, to teach us what we should do and what we shouldn't do, so that mankind can survive in this world.】
Now let’s give some thought to this: If God hadn’t done His work of the Age of Law, what would have happened to mankind? Without the law’s restrictions or God’s guidance, all of mankind would have fallen into utter chaos and been seized by Satan. God giving mankind the law was incredibly important work! His work of the Age of Law taught man what is sin, and what is righteousness, and it showed man that sinning requires a sacrifice for atonement. God’s first stage of work not only brought mankind onto the right track in their lives, but it also set the stage, paved the road for the redemption work of the Age of Grace.
1️⃣Age of Law---Jehovah---Issue Law---KNOW SIN
Q Is God's work finished after the Age of the Law?
A. Yes!
B. No!
Correct Answer： No
Part 3. Age of Grace
Although people in the Age of Law had learned what sin was, how to offer sacrifices for atonement, and how to worship God, due to Satan’s corruption, they often couldn’t keep the law. Especially in the later period of the Age of Law, people sinned more and more, and there were no longer enough sin offerings to be made. Because of the lack of sin offerings, everyone faced the danger of being condemned and put to death under the law, and they all desperately prayed and cried out to God. If God’s work had remained in the Age of Law, everyone would have been condemned and put to death under the law because they had sinned too much, and then all of mankind would have come to nothing. Thus, Jehovah God informed the Israelites through the prophets that the Messiah would come to be the sin offering for mankind and to redeem them. The prophecy says:
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given: and the government shall be on His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6).
“And Jehovah has laid on Him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:6).
“You shall make His soul an offering for sin” (Isaiah 53:10).
Afterwards, according to His promise, God became incarnate as the Lord Jesus to do the work of redeeming mankind.
“During the Age of Grace, Jesus came to redeem the whole of fallen humankind (not only the Israelites). He showed mercy and lovingkindness to man. The Jesus that man saw in the Age of Grace was filled with lovingkindness and was always loving toward man, for He had come to save humanity from sin. He was able to forgive men their sins until His crucifixion completely redeemed humankind from sin. During this period, God appeared before man with mercy and lovingkindness; that is, He became a sin offering for man and was crucified for the sins of man, so that they might forever be forgiven”
“Without Jesus’ redemption, mankind would forever have lived in sin and become the progeny of sin, the descendants of demons. Continuing thus, the whole world would have become the land where Satan dwells, the place of its habitation. The work of redemption, however, required showing mercy and lovingkindness toward mankind; only by such means could mankind receive forgiveness and ultimately win the right to be made complete and fully gained by God. Without this stage of work, the six-thousand-year management plan would not have been able to progress. If Jesus had not been crucified, if He had only healed the sick and exorcised demons, then people could not have been completely forgiven of their sins. In the three and a half years that Jesus spent doing His work on earth, He completed only half of His work of redemption; then, by being nailed to the cross and becoming the likeness of sinful flesh, by being handed over to the evil one, He completed the work of crucifixion and mastered the destiny of mankind. Only after He was delivered into Satan’s hands did He redeem mankind. For thirty-three and a half years He suffered on earth, being ridiculed, slandered, and forsaken, even to the point where He had no place to lay His head, no place of rest, and He was later crucified, with His whole being—a holy and innocent body—nailed to the cross. He endured every kind of suffering there is. Those in power mocked and whipped Him, and the soldiers even spat in His face; yet He remained silent and endured until the end, submitting unconditionally to the point of death, whereupon He redeemed all of humanity. Only then was He permitted to rest. The work that Jesus did represents only the Age of Grace; it does not represent the Age of Law, nor is it a substitute for the work of the last days. This is the essence of Jesus’ work in the Age of Grace, the second age that mankind has passed through—the Age of Redemption”
In the Age of Grace, the Lord Jesus lived among people, preaching:
“Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4:17).
He taught people to confess their sins and repent, to love others as themselves, to forgive others seventy times seven, to love God with all their heart, with all their soul, and with all their mind, and to worship God in spirit and in truth, and so on. This allowed people to understand God’s intentions; they gained a clear goal and direction in their faith in God, and they completely walked out from the bondage of the law and regulations. The Lord Jesus also performed many miracles and wonders, healing the sick and casting out demons for people, forgiving people’s sins, and was full of tolerance and patience towards them. People felt God’s love and mercy, saw how lovely and approachable He is, and their relationship with God became much closer. Ultimately, the Lord Jesus was crucified for mankind, becoming the eternal sin offering. He forgave man’s sins once and forever. From then on, as long as people confessed their sins to the Lord and repented, their sins would be forgiven. They would no longer be condemned or punished by the law, and they would be qualified to come before God to pray and enjoy the peace, joy, and abundant grace bestowed by the Lord. It is clear that the Lord Jesus’ work of redemption brought great salvation to mankind, allowing mankind to survive and develop till today.
2️⃣Age of Grace---Jesus---Crucifixion----FORGIVE SIN
Part 4. Age of Kingdom
Background: So, does the completion of God's work in the Age of Grace mean that God's work of saving mankind is over? Of course not.
Q Does the Lord Jesus completing the redemptive work mean God's salvation work has ended? Does mankind still need God to do more work to save them?
A. I believe God's salvation work has not yet ended, because we can still sin, and we still need God to do more work to save us.
B. I believe God's salvation work has already ended; we just need to wait for God to take us into the kingdom of heaven.
✅Correct answer: A. I believe God's salvation work has not yet ended, because we can still sin, and we still need God to do more work to save us.
Some people say that when the Lord Jesus said "It is finished" on the cross, doesn't "It is finished" here mean that the redemptive work is finished? How could God still need to do further work to save man?
Actually, when the Lord Jesus said "It is finished," it merely referred to the work of crucifixion being finished and to the completion of God's redemptive work; it absolutely did not mean that all of God's work of saving mankind was finished. Why is that? The Age of Grace lasted for two thousand years. Almost all who believe in the Lord think that since the Lord Jesus was crucified and redeemed all mankind, God's work of saving mankind was successfully completed, and that when the Lord returns in the last days, He will directly catch believers up into the air and bring them into the kingdom of heaven. So, is this really the case? It is true that people’s sins are forgiven when they believe in the Lord, but their sinful nature has not been resolved. So do you think we can enter the Kingdom directly? (No.) Do we need God to do a new work to make us holy? (Yes.) Amen, this is why God comes to do the work of judgment in the last days. Now let us see the third age.
Why do we need God’s judgment in the last days?
Driven by their sinful nature, people live in corrupt dispositions every day and often uncontrollably lie and sin, strive for fame and gain, are jealous and contentious, arrogant and self-righteous, and submit to no one. They want to be tolerant and patient but cannot do it; they want to love others as themselves but cannot practice it; they want to love the Lord and submit to the Lord, but that is even more difficult. For two thousand years, all who believe in the Lord have lived in a cycle of sinning by day and confessing by night, deeply experiencing the pain and torment of living in sin. This is a fact that no one can deny. So, are people living in sin like this considered saved? Are they qualified to enter the kingdom of heaven? Certainly not.
Can people who live in sin like this be considered saved? Are they qualified to enter the kingdom of heaven?
Certainly not.
The Lord Jesus says: “Truly, truly, I say to you, Whoever commits sin is the servant of sin. And the servant stays not in the house for ever: but the son stays ever” (John 8:34–35).
“You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy” (Leviticus 11:45).
“Without holiness no man shall see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14).
God is a righteous and holy God; how could He allow people who often sin and resist Him to enter His kingdom? Therefore, after the Lord Jesus completed the redemptive work, He prophesied many times that He would surely come again, specifically to do a stage of judgment work in the last days to thoroughly purify and save mankind, and bring man into the kingdom of heaven. Just as the Lord Jesus prophesied:
“I have yet many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. However, when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth” (John 16:12–13).
“Sanctify them through Your truth: Your word is truth” (John 17:17).
“He that rejects Me, and accepts not My words, has one that judges him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day” (John 12:48).
Thus, it is clear that when the Lord returns, He will express the truth to do a stage of judgment work, guiding people to understand and enter into all truth, which is to completely save man from sin, from Satan's influence, and bring them into God's kingdom. This is a stage of work that God planned long ago, and it is also the final stage of work in God's management plan.
【Here we can stress the key points, God will return to do the judgment work according to His own prophecies. And the judgment work is second salvation, the eternal gospel.】
Let us read a few passages of God's words, and we will be clear on this aspect of the truth.
The Content and Results of the Work:
“Though Jesus came among man and did much work, He only completed the work of redeeming all mankind and served as man’s sin offering; He did not rid man of all his corrupt disposition. Fully saving man from the influence of Satan not only required Jesus to become the sin offering and bear the sins of man, but it also required God to do even greater work to rid man completely of his satanically corrupted disposition. And so, after man was forgiven of his sins, God returned to the flesh to lead man into the new age, and began the work of chastisement and judgment. This work has brought man into a higher realm. All those who submit under His dominion shall enjoy higher truth and receive greater blessings. They shall truly live in the light, and they shall gain the truth, the way, and the life.”
“By means of this work of judgment and chastisement, man will fully come to know the filthy and corrupt essence within his own self, and he will be able to change completely and become purified. Only in this way can man become worthy to return before the throne of God. All the work done this day is so that man can be cleansed and be changed; through judgment and chastisement by the word, as well as through refinement, man can cast off his corruption and be cleansed.”
“Christ of the last days uses a variety of truths to teach man, to expose the substance of man, and to dissect the words and deeds of man. These words comprise various truths, such as man’s duty, how man should submit to God, how man should be loyal to God, how man ought to live out normal humanity, as well as the wisdom and the disposition of God, and so on. These words are all directed at the substance of man and his corrupt disposition. In particular, the words that expose how man rejects God are spoken in regard to how man is an embodiment of Satan, and an enemy force against God. In undertaking His work of judgment, God does not simply make clear the nature of man with a few words; He exposes and prunes over the long term. All these different methods of exposure and pruning cannot be substituted with ordinary words, but with the truth of which man is utterly bereft. Only methods such as these can be called judgment; only through judgment of this kind can man be subdued and thoroughly convinced about God, and moreover gain true knowledge of God. What the work of judgment brings about is man’s understanding of the true face of God and the truth about his own rebelliousness. The work of judgment allows man to gain much understanding of the intentions of God, of the purpose of God’s work, and of the mysteries that are incomprehensible to him. It also allows man to recognize and know his corrupt essence and the roots of his corruption, as well as to discover the ugliness of man. These effects are all brought about by the work of judgment, for the essence of this work is actually the work of opening up the truth, the way, and the life of God to all those who have faith in Him. This work is the work of judgment done by God.”
These words state very clearly that the redemptive work done by the Lord Jesus only forgave man's sins but did not remove their inner sinful nature; it did not completely save man from sin. Therefore, God's work of saving mankind has not ended; God still needs to express more truths and do a stage of judgment work to thoroughly purify and save man.
In the Age of Kingdom, God judges and removes man's sin by expressing many truths. The truth of God’s words is like a great light and a mirror. Only through the exposure and judgment of God's words, can we humans see that our sinful nature is still too deeply rooted, can we have true knowledge and hatred of ourselves, and consciously practice the truth, act according to God's words, and let God's words become the criteria for our actions and conduct. At this time, through the truth expressed by God in His second coming, our sinful nature is truly purified, and we are completely renewed and transformed into people newly made by God, becoming those who can practice God's words in all things. Such people are those who are ultimately purified and can enter God's kingdom and remain. This shows us that the judgment work done by God with truth and words in the Age of Kingdom is truly important for us humans.
Q Brothers and sisters, do you think God will judge us by the new words in the sealed book or by the words in the Bible?
A. by the new words in the sealed book
B. by the words in the Bible
✅Correct answer: A.
Let us watch a short video to take a review about that!
From this video, we can see God will come to judge us and cleanse us by the new words in the sealed book!
Through what we just discussed, we could see that the redemptive work of the Lord Jesus was entirely to pave the way for the judgment work of the last days. The judgment work of the last days is the most crucial and core work in God's salvation work, and it is also the only way for mankind to be saved and enter the kingdom of heaven. If people can accept God's judgment work of the last days, their corrupt dispositions will have the opportunity to be purified, they will no longer sin and resist God, and they will be able to truly submit to and love God. Only then can God's work of saving mankind be completely finished, and the six-thousand-year management plan be successfully accomplished.
Let us make a summary together for the Age of Kingdom!
3️⃣Age of Kingdom---Jesus' return---Judgment---Remove and purify Sinful nature
Those who experience judgment and attain purification will be kept by God and survive through the catastrophe. Subsequently, the new heaven and earth—Christ’s kingdom—will appear on earth. Those who survive will all be God’s people, living forever in God’s kingdom, enjoying God’s promises and blessings. This fulfills the prophecies in Revelation:
“The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdom of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He shall reign for ever and ever” (Revelation 11:15).
“And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away” (Revelation 21:3–4).
Part 5. God's New Name
God’s Name: Through fellowship, we have come to know that in the Age of Law, God issued the law to let people know what sin is. Because this stage of work was relatively simple, merely making people understand what sin is, God worked directly as the Spirit and took the name Jehovah. What does the name Jehovah refer to? It refers to God who is self-existent and everlasting. “Self-existent and everlasting means that the one true God is self-existent and everlasting. “Self-existent” means He has existed from the very beginning; He is the God who exists forever. Such a God created the heavens and the earth and all things, created mankind, and personally leads mankind, holding sovereignty over all. The mention of “self-existent and ever-existing” tells that this is the one true God, and besides Him, there is no other God. This was God’s name in the Age of Law.
In the Age of Grace, God became incarnate to personally do the work of redeeming mankind. God’s name was Jesus. What is the meaning of the Lord Jesus’ name? In Hebrew, it is Emmanuel, which means “God with us.”
Old testament (Age of Law) - Jehovah God
New testament (Age of Grace) - Jesus Christ
Revelation (Age of Kingdom) - Does God have a new name in the last days?
【Wait for a moment and interact with seekers】
So, when God comes in the last days, will He have a new name? Actually, the Bible prophesied long ago that the Lord would have a new name when He returns.
It prophesied in Isaiah clearly:
“And the Gentiles shall see your righteousness, and all kings your glory: and you shall be called by a new name, which the mouth of Jehovah shall name” (Isaiah 62:2).
It also prophesied in Revelation:
“Him that overcomes will I make a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write on him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, which is new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God: and I will write on him My new name” (Revelation 3:12).
Both these scriptures mention that God will have a new name. Since it is a new name, it is not a name He has been called by before. Therefore, when the Lord returns, He certainly will no longer be called “Jesus.” So, what is this new name? Let’s look at a few prophecies:
🌟Revelation 1:8. “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, said the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, ➤➤ *the Almighty.”*
🌟Revelation 11:17 “Saying, We give you thanks, ➤➤ *O LORD God Almighty,* which are, and were, and are to come; because you have taken to you your great power, and have reigned.”
🌟Revelation 16:7 “And I heard another out of the altar say, Even so, ➤➤ *Lord God Almighty,* true and righteous are your judgments.”
Q. What is God’s name in the Age of Kingdom of the last days?
Almighty God.
So, what is the meaning of the name “Almighty God”?
“During the Age of Law Jehovah was the name of God, and in the Age of Grace the name of Jesus represented God. During the last days, His name is Almighty God—the Almighty, who uses His power to guide man, conquer man, and gain man, and in the end, bring the age to its close.”
The word “Almighty” encompasses God’s inherent disposition, what God has and is, God’s work, and all the truth expressed by God—all are included in this name, Almighty God. That is to say, through the truth expressed by Almighty God, you come to know God’s almightiness, God’s disposition, what God has and is, God’s practicality, the principles of God’s work, the way God saves mankind, how He finally leads mankind into the Age of Millennial Kingdom and then into a beautiful destination, and so on. These are all the effects achieved by God’s almightiness. Moreover, in the last days, God incarnate only speaks; through words He judges and exposes our corrupt dispositions, through words He purifies and saves us, through words He punishes all hostile forces, and through words He establishes His kingdom. Everything is established and accomplished by the words of His mouth; this even more manifests God’s almightiness. Therefore, the name “Almighty God” not only represents God saving us from Satan’s influence and showing forth God’s almightiness, but more importantly, it signifies that God ends the entire Age of Grace, brings mankind into a new era—the Age of Millennial Kingdom—and concludes the entire history of mankind. All of this work is accomplished through the name of Almighty God.
Some people say, It’s written right there in the Bible: “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and forever” (Heb 13:8).
“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12).
So the name of the Lord never changes! But you say that when the Lord comes again in the last days He will take a new name and will be called Almighty God. How do you explain it?
Does this Bible verse mean that God’s name can only be called Jesus and cannot be changed? If God’s name cannot be changed, why was His name called Jehovah in the Age of Law not Jesus? And why did Jehovah’s name be changed into Jesus? If God’s name cannot be changed, then why the Lord still prophesied that He will have a new name in the book of Revelation?
Then could we understand this verse just according to the literal meaning here? No!
What is the true meaning that Jesus is the same yesterday and today and forever?
This refers to the fact that God’s disposition and His essence are eternal and unchanging. It does not mean that His name will not change.
Speaking of this, perhaps some people will ask, “Why does God’s name need to change? What is the significance of this?” We will understand after reading a few passages of words together.
“Some say that the name of God does not change. Why, then, did the name of Jehovah become Jesus? It was prophesied that the Messiah would come, so why then did a man by the name of Jesus come? Why did the name of God change? Was such work not carried out long ago? May God not do newer work today? The work of yesterday can be altered, and the work of Jesus can follow on from that of Jehovah. Cannot, then, the work of Jesus be succeeded by other work? If the name of Jehovah can be changed to Jesus, then cannot the name of Jesus also be changed? None of this is odd; it is just that people are too simple-minded. God will always be God. No matter how His work changes, and regardless of how His name might change, His disposition and wisdom will never change. If you believe that God can only be called by the name of Jesus, then your knowledge is far too limited.”
“In each age, God does new work and is called by a new name; how could He do the same work in different ages? How could He cling to the old? The name of Jesus was taken for the sake of the work of redemption, so would He still be called by the same name when He returns in the last days? Would He still be doing the work of redemption? Why is it that Jehovah and Jesus are one, yet They are called by different names in different ages? Is it not because the ages of Their work are different? Could a single name represent God in His entirety? This being so, God must be called by a different name in a different age, and He must use the name to change the age and to represent the age. For no one name can fully represent God Himself, and each name is able only to represent the temporal aspect of God’s disposition in a given age; all it needs to do is to represent His work. Therefore, God can choose whatever name befits His disposition to represent the entire age.”
Having read these words, we can understand the significance of God taking on a new name. God is always new and never old, His work is always moving forward, and God's name changes continuously with age and with His work. Each time God does a stage of work and opens up a new age, He takes a name with temporal significance to represent the work He does and the disposition He expresses in that age. In this way, we humans will not confine God to the names "Jehovah" or "Jesus," and will not confine God within our own notions and imaginings. We all know that what God is and has is all-encompassing. God is so wise and almighty that human language is fundamentally incapable of describing Him. Not to mention just one or two names—even many more names cannot fully represent what God is and has. Therefore, God takes a different name in each age.
Just as in the Age of Law, God's name was "Jehovah." The name "Jehovah" was God's particular name in the Age of Law, representing only the work God did and the disposition of mercy, majesty, and wrath He expressed in the Age of Law. Later, God personally became incarnate as the Son of man, appeared, and did work, using the name "Jesus" to do the work of redemption, opening up the Age of Grace and ending the Age of Law. The Lord Jesus gave man the way of repentance, forgave man's sins, bestowed upon man peace, joy, and abundant grace, and was finally crucified for man, redeeming all mankind. The name "Jesus" was God's particular name in the Age of Grace, representing the redemptive work God did and the disposition of loving kindness and mercy He expressed in the Age of Grace. Similarly, in the last days, if the returned Lord Jesus were still called Jesus, then God's work would remain stuck at the redemptive work. In the last days, God wants to open up a new age and carry out new work; could He still be called the Lord Jesus? Certainly not.
In the last days, the Lord Jesus has returned, appearing and working with the name "Almighty God," opening up the Age of Kingdom and ending the Age of Grace. He expresses the truth and does the work of judgment beginning from the house of God, to completely save mankind from sin and from Satan's influence, to make a group of overcomers. Afterward, He will send down the great catastrophes to reward the good and punish the evil, destroying this dark and evil old age, and then the kingdom of Christ will appear on earth. This completely fulfills the prophecies in Revelation:
“I am Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the Ending, said the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty” (Revelation 1:8)
“Alleluia: for the Lord God Almighty reigns” (Revelation 19:6).
To better understand this aspect of the truth, let us take an example.
For example, if you are a teacher at a school, what do students call you? They call you "teacher," right? And what if you become a doctor? Then you're called "doctor." What if you open a shop and become the boss? Then, of course, you're called "boss"! You see, when your profession changes, if your title doesn't change, people won't know your latest profession. So, when the profession changes, the title also changes. Even if what others call you changes, aren't you still you? By the same token, God does different work in different ages and uses names to open up new ages. Although God's name changes and His work changes, God's essence will never change. All the work is done by one God. That is to say: God's essence will never change, but God's name can change.
Q Does everyone now know the new name of the Lord when He returns in the last days?
A: Jesus
B: Almighty God
C: Not sure
✅Correct answer: B: Almighty God
Part 6. All Three Stages Done by One God
So, is everyone clear now? The three stages of work—the Age of Law, the Age of Grace, and the Age of Kingdom—are three different stages of work done by God in different ages to save mankind.
⭐First stage: the Age of Law—Jehovah issued laws and commandments to guide people's lives and make them aware of sin.
⭐Second stage: the Age of Grace—the Lord Jesus did the work of crucifixion and redeemed all mankind, allowing people to confess and repent.
⭐Third stage: the Age of Kingdom—Almighty God expresses all the truths for judging and purifying man's sinful nature, so that man's sins could be cleansed, and they could enter God's kingdom.
Each stage of work is linked to the next, and each step is built upon the foundation of the previous step, each more profound and elevated than the last. They are closely linked, inextricable, and one would not work without the others.
It’s just like how you build the house in 3 steps, every part is linked to another and every part is important!
Let us go back to see God’s 3 stages of work. Without the work of the Age of Law, no one would know what sin is, and we’d all be trampled by Satan, living in sin. We’d be wrested away by Satan, making the work of the Age of Grace impossible. Without the redemption work of the Age of Grace, mankind would suffer punishment for committing too many sins and we wouldn’t have made it to this day. So what if God didn’t do the judgment work of the last days? Without it, we’d never escape the bonds of sin or be worthy of entering the kingdom of heaven. We’d end up destroyed for being profoundly sinful. Clearly, without any step of these three stages of work, mankind will be taken captive by Satan and could never be fully saved.
These three stages of work comprise God’s full management plan for God’s salvation of man. Each step is even more critical than the last, and they are parts of God’s meticulous arrangements to save mankind. This fully shows us God’s great love and salvation for humanity and shows us His wisdom and almightiness.
So, brothers and sisters, the three stages of work progressively deepen. Are Jehovah, the Lord Jesus, and Almighty God one and the same God? In fact, all three stages of work are done by one God. Although God’s name is different, and the methods and content of His work are different, the three stages of work are all done by one God. Some might ask, “If the names and work of God in the three stages are different, how can we be sure that they are done by one God?” let's read two passages of words and it will be clear:
“From the work of Jehovah to that of Jesus, and from the work of Jesus to that of this current stage, these three stages cover in a continuous thread the entire gamut of God’s management, and they are all the work of one Spirit. Since the creation of the world, God has always been at work managing mankind. He is the Beginning and the End, He is the First and the Last, and He is the One who begins an age and the One who brings the age to an end. The three stages of work, in different ages and different locations, are unmistakably the work of one Spirit. All those who separate these three stages stand in opposition to God. Now, it behooves you to understand that all the work from the first stage until today is the work of one God, the work of one Spirit. Of this there can be no doubt.”
“Though the work of the two incarnate fleshes is different, the essence of the fleshes, and the source of Their work, are identical; it is just that They exist to perform two different stages of the work, and arise in two different ages. No matter what, God’s incarnate fleshes share the same essence and the same origin—this is a truth no one can deny.”
It makes it very clear that God’s work is always progressing. In each stage of His work, God takes a different name, which He uses to start and end an age, and the name represents the work God does in each age. This way, we humans won’t limit God to the names “Jehovah” and “Jesus” or confine God within our own notions and imaginings. Regardless of how God’s name or work methods change, there is eternally one Spirit at work, and God’s essence never changes. God is always God; this is absolutely certain.
Q If people remain in the Age of Grace, only accepting the Lord Jesus' redemptive work, and do not accept the judgment work done by Almighty God in the Age of Kingdom, do you think they can enter God's kingdom?
A. I think so; those who believe in Jesus can enter God's kingdom no matter what.
B. I don't think so. We must closely follow God's footsteps and experience God's judgment work of the last days to be purified.
C. Not sure
Correct answer✅: B. I don't think so. We must closely follow God's footsteps and experience God's judgment work of the last days to be purified.
Part 7. The Consequence of Rejecting Judgment Work
Brothers and sisters, through today's fellowship, we have learned that God's management plan is divided into a total of three stages. For us who are born in the last days, which stage is the most crucial for us and directly determines our outcome and destination?
—That's right, the Age of Kingdom.✅
When God returns in the last days, He will end the Age of Grace, open up the Age of Kingdom, and do the work of judgment beginning from the house of God. God's judgment work in the Age of Kingdom is the final stage of the three stages of work; it is the concluding work of God's management plan. Whether man can accept and submit to it directly concerns their outcome. Some people say, "If I only believe in Jesus, do not accept Jesus' return, and do not keep up with God's new work, is that alright?" What did the Lord Jesus say?
“Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, and in Your name have cast out devils, and in Your name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess to them, I never knew you: depart from Me, you that work iniquity” (Matthew 7:22–23).
Many people do not understand why these people, who believed in the Lord their whole lives, suffered much, and kept the name of the Lord Jesus, did not receive the Lord's approval but were instead condemned by the Lord as evildoers. What is really going on here? It is because they do not accept God's judgment work of the last days; their corrupt dispositions have not been purified, and they can still rebel against God, resist God, deny God, and betray God. God has done such great work to save mankind and paid such a great price, yet man not only does not believe or accept it but also resists God, denies God, and condemns God. This is the most serious betrayal of God; it is blasphemy against God! Such people will have no more sin offering; they are objects to be eternally spurned and eliminated by God. Therefore, not accepting God's judgment work of the last days, rejecting the Christ of the last days, and refusing to accept God's salvation of the last days—this is evidence of condemnation. The outcome is to sink into perdition and destruction, with no chance ever to be saved and enter the kingdom of heaven. But those who genuinely believe in God, yearn for God's appearance, accept the judgment and chastisement of the last days, and attain purification are the most blessed people; they are the overcomers God will make in the last days, who will enter the next age with God and enjoy eternal rest.
God's six-thousand-year management plan is about to end, and the gate of the ark of the last days is about to close. We do not have much time left.
Now the great catastrophes prophesied in the Bible have already begun to fall. If one does not welcome the Lord, they will fall into the disasters. The future disasters will be destructive: earthquakes, typhoons, volcanic eruptions, and so on. One disaster comes and destroys some people; another disaster comes and destroys some more. One wave of disaster destroys one wave of people. In the end, all the nonbelievers and evildoers will be destroyed. Only those who accept and experience God's judgment of the last days and attain purification will be protected by God in the disasters and survive. God will completely defeat Satan and be fully glorified, and God's six-thousand-year management plan will be successfully accomplished. Following that, the new heaven and earth—the kingdom of Christ—will appear on earth. Those who survive will be God's people, living forever in God's kingdom, enjoying God's promises and blessings. Conversely, even if one has accepted the first two stages of work, suffered much, and paid a great price, if they do not accept this final stage of work and cannot achieve a change in life disposition, then they cannot be saved. This is God's righteous disposition. Such a person would give up halfway in their belief in God, with all previous efforts wasted. What a great pity and regret! Finally, let's share another passage of words:
“Those who are able to stand firm during God’s work of judgment and chastisement during the last days—that is, during the final work of purification—will be the ones who will enter into the final rest alongside God; as such, all those who enter into rest will have broken free of Satan’s influence and been gained by God only after having undergone His final work of purification. These humans, who will have been finally gained by God, will enter into the final rest. The purpose of God’s work of chastisement and judgment is in essence meant to purify humanity, for the sake of the ultimate day of rest; otherwise no members of humanity could be sorted according to their kind, or enter into rest. This work is humanity’s only path to enter into rest. Only God’s work of purification will cleanse humans of their unrighteousness, and only His work of chastisement and judgment will expose those rebellious elements of humanity, thereby distinguishing those who can be saved from those who cannot, and those who will remain from those who will not. When this work ends, those people who are allowed to remain will all be cleansed and enter a higher state of humanity in which they will enjoy a more wonderful second human life upon the earth; in other words, they will commence their human day of rest, and coexist with God. After those who are not allowed to remain have been chastised and judged, their true colors will be entirely exposed, after which they will all be destroyed and, like Satan, will no longer be permitted to survive upon the earth. The humanity of the future will no longer include any of this type of people; such people are not fit to enter the land of the ultimate rest, nor are they fit to join in the day of rest that God and humanity will share, for they are the targets of punishment and are evil, unrighteous people. They were redeemed once, and they have also been judged and chastised; they also once labored for God. However, when the final day comes, they will still be eliminated and destroyed due to their evil and as a result of their rebelliousness and inability to be redeemed; they will never again come into being in the world of the future, and will no longer live among the human race of the future. … The sole purpose behind God’s ultimate work of punishing evil and rewarding good is to thoroughly purify all humans so that He may bring a purely sanctified humanity into eternal rest. This stage of His work is the most crucial; it is the final stage of the whole of His work of management.”
【Review question】
Q How many stages are there in God’s work of salvation?
Q And what is God’s name during this final stage?
Invitation for next topic 4
This is not an ordinary Bible study; each day brings a new topic, and every topic contains a truth you've never heard of before. Tomorrow, we will explore a new topic, and tomorrow’s topic is the most important of all eight topics. After hearing tomorrow’s topic, you will understand the true reason we are holding this sermon. Tomorrow’s topic: Have you heard the voice of God?
🌹The Lord Jesus says: "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me" (John 10:27). "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20).
As we can see, if we are the sheep of God, in order to welcome the Lord’s return, we must hear His voice, and His voice must be very special. Now, What are the characteristics of God’s voice? How can we recognize God’s voice and welcome the Lord’s return? This topic is crucial because it determines whether you can be a wise virgin and welcome the Lord, and it also concerns our eternal life. Among you, there are even some who are much older than I am. Some brothers and sisters have been believers for a lifetime, waiting for the Lord’s return. Do you not want to welcome the Lord’s return in your lifetime? Do you want to miss the chance to recognize Him when He comes? Surely not. So, if you are someone who has longed for the Lord’s return, if you want to be a wise virgin to welcome the Lord, if you do not want to be a foolish virgin and miss His return, and if you want to know whether you are one of God’s sheep, join tomorrow’s sermon, and you will find the answer.
No matter how busy we are, I sincerely hope that no one misses tomorrow's sermon. I pray that God will make a way for each one of you to be able to attend, because you will hear a message that is both astonishing and joyfully comforting.
🤔Would you like to join tomorrow night and find out if you are God’s sheep? (Yes or No)