The Story of the Universe: God, Heaven and Earth, Man, Jesus Christ, the Church—the Golden Lampstand, the Holy City New Jerusalem—the Bride
Genesis 1:1 "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth"
Zechariah 12:1 "The LORD... who forms the spirit of man within him"
Revelation 1:20 "The seven lampstands are the seven churches"
Ephesians 1:22-23 "The church, which is His body"
Revelation 21:2,9-10 "The holy city, New Jerusalem... as a bride"
|
Stage |
Definition |
Description |
Examples |
Application |
Related Scriptures |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
God |
Creator and source of the universe |
God is the origin of all things, creating heaven, earth, and all things; He is the beginning of the universe's story |
God created humans in His image and likeness |
Recognize God as the source of our life and worship Him |
Genesis 1:1 "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth" |
|
Heaven and Earth |
The physical universe created by God |
God created heaven, earth, and all things as an environment for human existence and to express God |
The six days of creation, the heavens and earth that God saw as good |
Appreciate and manage the world God created |
Genesis 1:1-31, Psalm 19:1 "The heavens declare the glory of God" |
|
Man |
Created in God's image with a spirit |
God created man with spirit, soul, and body; man's spirit is the organ to contact God |
The creation of Adam and Eve, Eve prefiguring the church |
Fellowship with God through our spirit |
Genesis 1:26-27, 2:7, Zechariah 12:1 "The LORD... who forms the spirit of man within him" |
|
Jesus Christ |
God incarnate, the Redeemer |
God became flesh and came among men to bring salvation |
Jesus's birth, life, death, and resurrection |
Accept Christ as Savior and experience Him as life |
John 1:1,14 "In the beginning was the Word... and the Word became flesh", Philippians 2:6-8 |
|
Church —Golden Lampstand |
The Body of Christ, God's house |
The enlargement of Christ, composed of regenerated believers, shining light on earth |
Pentecost, the descent of the Holy Spirit, the birth of the church |
Be built together to express Christ's light |
Revelation 1:20 "The seven lampstands are the seven churches", Ephesians 1:22-23 "The church, which is His body" |
|
Holy City New Jerusalem —the Bride |
The ultimate consummation of the church, the wife of the Lamb |
The ultimate manifestation of the church, the eternal union of God and man, the ultimate expression of the divine-human nature |
The Holy City descending from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband |
Pursue maturity, prepare for Christ's return |
Revelation 21:2,9-10 "The holy city, New Jerusalem... as a bride", Revelation 22:17 "The Spirit and the bride say, Come!" |
Conclusion:
From the perspective of the Bible, the story of the universe reveals God's wonderful plan and purpose. This story begins in Genesis and ends in Revelation, depicting how God initiated His plan through creation and ultimately achieves eternal union with humanity. The mystery of this universal story lies in how God, beginning with creation and through redemption, obtains His full expression. As shown in the referenced scriptures, God enters into man through Christ, Christ is enlarged through the church, and the church is ultimately revealed as Christ's bride—the Holy City New Jerusalem, where "the Spirit and the bride say, Come!", and God and man become eternally one.
*Please refer to the July 2024 Anaheim, California, USA training Experiencing, Enjoying and Manifesting Christ (II) Week 21 The Mystery of the Church
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