THE SECOND PART: A BIRD’S-EYE VIEW OF THE NEW TESTAMENT
The Full Ministry of Christ in the Stage of IntensificationMessage One—Intensifying His Organic Salvation
Scriptures Reading: Rev. 1:4-5; 5:6; 4:2; 1 Cor. 15:45b; 2 Cor. 3:17a; Phil. 3:14-15; Eph. 3:16-21
I. The full ministry of Christ is in three stages—John 1:14; 1 Cor. 15:45b; 2 Cor. 3:17a; Rev. 4:5; 5:6: (1997 TGC, msg. 1)
A. The first stage is the stage of incarnation—the stage of Christ in the flesh—John 1:14. (2005 MDC, msg. 4)
B. The second stage is the stage of inclusion—the stage of Christ as the life-giving Spirit—1 Cor. 15:45b; 2 Cor. 3:17a. (2005 MDC, msg. 4)
C. The third stage is the stage of intensification—the stage of Christ as the sevenfold intensified Spirit—Rev. 1:4; 4:5; 5:6; 3:1: (2005 MDC, msg. 4)
1. The first section of Christ’s ministry was judicial, the second section is organic, and the third section is sevenfold intensified. (The Secret of God’s Organic Salvation: ‘The Spirit Himself with Our Spirit,’ msg. 6)
2. Now Christ is not only the life-giving Spirit—He is the sevenfold intensified life-giving Spirit carrying out His sevenfold intensified heavenly ministry. (The Secret of God’s Organic Salvation: ‘The Spirit Himself with Our Spirit,’ msg. 6)
II. Because of the degradation of the church Christ as the life-giving Spirit has been intensified sevenfold to become the seven Spirits—the sevenfold intensified life-giving Spirit—1:4; 5:6:
A. On the way of Christ’s ministry in the stage of His inclusion, the church became degraded to frustrate the accomplishment of God’s eternal economy—2:4, 6, 14-15, 20; 3:1-2, 15-17: (How to Be a Co-worker and an Elder and How to Fulfill Their Obligations, msg. 3)
1. Eventually the church degraded to such an extent that the Lord could no longer tolerate it. (Incarnation, Inclusion, and Intensification, msg. 2)
2. The Lord reacted to the degradation of the church by intensifying Himself sevenfold to become the sevenfold intensified life-giving Spirit—1:4; 4:5; 5:6. (2008 MDC, msg. 4)
B. The seven Spirits are undoubtedly the Spirit of God because they are ranked among the Triune God—1:4-5: (Life-study of Revelation, msg. 4)
1. As seven is the number for completion in God’s operation, so the seven Spirits are for God’s move on the earth. (Life-study of Revelation, msg. 4)
2. At the time the book of Revelation was written, the church had become degraded and the age had become dark; therefore, the sevenfold intensified Spirit of God was needed for God’s move and work on the earth. (Life-study of Revelation, msg. 4)
C. In substance and existence, God’s Spirit is one; in the intensified function and work of God’s operation, God’s Spirit is sevenfold—4:2: (Life-study of Revelation, msg. 4)
1. It is like the lampstand in Zechariah 4:2: (Life-study of Revelation, msg. 4)
a. In existence it is one lampstand. (Life-study of Revelation, msg. 4)
b. In function it is seven lamps. (Life-study of Revelation, msg. 4)
2. In the intensified function and work of God’s operation, the Lord has become the sevenfold intensified Spirit to deal with the degradation of the church, to intensify His organic salvation, to produce the overcomers for the building up of the Body of Christ to consummate the New Jerusalem. (1997 TGC, msg. 1)
III. In Revelation 1:4-5 the Spirit becomes the second, the center, of the Divine Trinity, revealing the importance of the intensified function of the sevenfold Spirit of God: (2008 ITERO-F, msg. 8)
A. The seven Spirits are burning before the throne to carry out God’s administration, to execute God’s economy in the universe, by directing the world situation—1:4; 4:5. (2008 ITERO-F, msg. 8)
B. The sevenfold intensified Spirit is the seven lamps of fire to burn, enlighten, expose, judge, purify, and refine us to produce the golden lampstands—the churches—for the fulfillment of God’s New Testament economy—v. 5. (2008 ITERO-F, msg. 8)
C. The sevenfold intensified Spirit is the eyes of Christ as the redeeming Lamb and the building stone to observe and search us and to infuse and transfuse us with Christ’s essence, riches, and burden for God’s building—Zech. 3:9; 4:7; Rev. 1:14; 5:6. (2008 ITERO-F, msg. 8)
D. The golden lampstands, as the multiplied embodiment of the Triune God, are filled with God the Spirit as the seven shining Spirits—the full expression of the Triune God—1:12, 20; Eph. 5:18; Rom. 8:4; Gal. 5:16, 22-23. (2008 ITERO-F, msg. 8)
E. The seven Spirits, who are the lamps of fire in this age executing God’s New Testament economy, will become the river of water saturating the holy city of God, the New Jerusalem—Rev. 22:1-2. (2008 ITERO-F, msg. 8)
F. By the operation of the sevenfold intensified Spirit within Christ’s seeking believers, they are intensified to become the overcomers to build up the Body of Christ, which consummates the New Jerusalem—1:4; 4:5. (2012 WT, msg. 9)
IV. In the Lord’s recovery we need to do a work of three stages—Matt. 28:19; 2 Cor. 3:17a: (Incarnation, Inclusion, and Intensification, msg. 2)
A. We should do the work of the first stage, the stage of incarnation, to produce redeemed people—John 1:14. (Incarnation, Inclusion, and Intensification, msg. 2)
B. We should do the work of the second stage, the stage of inclusion, to produce churches—1 Cor. 15:45b; 2 Cor. 3:17a. (Incarnation, Inclusion, and Intensification, msg. 2)
C. We should have the burden and be able to do the work of the third stage, the stage of intensification, to produce the overcomers for the building up of the Body of Christ consummating in the New Jerusalem—Rev. 1:4; 4:5. (Incarnation, Inclusion, and Intensification, msg. 2)
D. “Now I am burdened to carry out a work in the stage of intensification. Therefore, I pray to the Lord, saying, ‘Lord, I am endeavoring to do my best to be an overcomer for the building up of Your Body to consummate the New Jerusalem.’ ” (Incarnation, Inclusion, and Intensification, msg. 2)
V. In the Lord’s recovery we need to advance from the stage of inclusion to the stage of intensification—Phil. 3:14-15: (1997 TGC, msg. 1)
A. We need to see that the Christ who is the all-inclusive, life-giving Spirit has been intensified sevenfold—1 Cor. 15:45b; Rev. 1:4; 4:5. (Incarnation, Inclusion, and Intensification, msg. 2)
B. We need to see that the ministry of Christ in the stage of intensification produces the overcomers to build up the Body of Christ consummating in the New Jerusalem as the unique goal of God’s economy—2:7, 11, 17, 26; 3:5. (Incarnation, Inclusion, and Intensification, msg. 2)
C. We need to consider this matter of intensification and to pray desperately, saying, “Lord, I want to advance from inclusion to intensification. Lord, You have been intensified sevenfold, and I pray that I also will be intensified sevenfold to overcome the degradation of the church that the Body may be built up to consummate the New Jerusalem”—Eph. 3:16-21. (Incarnation, Inclusion, and Intensification, msg. 2)