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The Bible reveals that God’s intention in creating man was to gain a vessel to express Him and rule for Him (Gen. 1:26-27). Bible students agree that in Genesis 1 man refers to all mankind. God did not create an individual man; He created a corporate man in one man, Adam. Hence, according to God’s intention, mankind should be considered as one man.
However, after the flood, fallen mankind was divided and scattered on the earth according to families and tongues in their lands and nations (10:5, 20, 31-32). After mankind rebelled against God at Babel, man’s language was confounded, and man was scattered (11:9). The history of fallen man is a history of division and scattering. The nations on the earth became independent and were in conflict with one another.
Two thousand years ago the known world was limited to three continents — Europe, Asia, and Africa — centered around the Mediterranean Sea, and the nations around the Mediterranean Sea were divided. Around 27 B.C. Caesar Augustus unified the nations around the Mediterranean Sea and established the Roman Empire. The Hebrew religion, Greek philosophy and culture, and Roman politics and law were three dominant elements prior to the establishment of the Roman Empire. When the Roman Empire unified the territories around the Mediterranean Sea, the Hebrew religion, Greek philosophy and culture, and Roman politics and law were merged. When the Lord Jesus was crucified on the cross, “Pilate wrote a notice also and put it on the cross; and it was written, JESUS THE NAZARENE, THE KING OF THE JEWS” (John 19:19). This notice was written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek (v. 20). The fact that these three languages were used shows that the Roman Empire had unified the Jewish, Greek, and Roman worlds into one empire.
The Roman Empire was established before the Lord Jesus was born. It paved the way for the gospel to spread to all the peoples on the earth. After the Lord Jesus died on the cross to accomplish redemption according to God’s plan, the gospel was ready to be spread. Because the Roman Empire had unified all the territories around the Mediterranean Sea and merged Roman politics, Greek culture, and the Hebrew religion, a broad way was paved for the gospel to spread around the Mediterranean Sea.
The Roman Empire made Greek the common language among the nations around the Mediterranean Sea. Having a unified language was a major contribution to the preaching of the gospel and the truth. How could the apostles preach the gospel if the Roman Empire had not been unified and if every nation around the Mediterranean Sea had its own language? Under God’s sovereignty, before the Lord Jesus was born and long before the apostles were sent out, the Roman Empire made Greek the common language among the nations around the Mediterranean Sea. This paved a broad way for God’s plan to be carried out, that is, for the propagation and spread of the gospel of God.
Furthermore, because the Roman Empire unified the territories around the Mediterranean Sea, Romans could go into Jewish regions, and Jews could go into Greek and Roman regions. There were Jews in nearly every city around the Mediterranean Sea. This can be seen in the account in Acts 2. During Pentecost devout Jews from every nation came to Jerusalem for the feast. Because they had been scattered for a long time, they had forgotten the Jewish language and could only speak their local tongues. While the Jews were at the feast in Jerusalem, the Holy Spirit was poured out on the disciples, and the church was produced (vv. 1-4, 37-41). According to verses 9 through 11, the Jews who were present came from at least fifteen nations represented by fifteen dialects. The establishing of the Roman Empire merged the nations around the Mediterranean Sea together.
In the Roman Empire transportation on sea and on land was developed. There was convenient maritime transportation on the Mediterranean Sea, and roads that went all over Europe and Asia Minor were built so that there was no problem traveling from Spain to Jerusalem. The Roman Empire accomplished four things. It unified the Jewish, Greek, and Roman worlds; it unified the language; it merged the nations; and it built convenient sea and land transportation. As a result, the gospel could be spread to every place around the Mediterranean Sea. In other words, there were believers and followers of the Lord in all the nations, tribes, peoples, and races around the Mediterranean Sea.
According to church history, after the church was produced, it gradually became degraded. Eventually, the church entered into the so-called Dark Ages, which lasted ten centuries. During this period of time the Roman Catholic Church was prevalent, and the Bible was locked up. At the end of the fifteenth century Columbus discovered a new continent. At the beginning of the sixteenth century Martin Luther was raised up by the Lord to recover the truth concerning justification by faith. These two great historical events — the discovery of a new continent and the Reformation led by Martin Luther — freed the minds of people who were previously under the bondage of the Roman Catholic Church.
From that time, science became a powerhouse, and material culture became prevalent. The steamboat, automobile, and airplane were invented one after another. While science and industry were developing, capitalism and socialism emerged. Eventually, the overproduction of goods gave birth to imperialism. On the surface God’s enemy, Satan, did many things during this period; however, we must realize that the Lord Jesus is above Satan. Satan is merely a “colt” used by the Lord Jesus to carry out God’s purpose.
After Columbus discovered the new continent, Spain became the leading power in the world, possessing the strongest navy. In order to bring the gospel to all the continents, especially to Africa and Asia, God raised up Britain to defeat Spain in a sea battle in 1588. From that time Britain became the leading power in the world. It was called “the empire on which the sun never sets.” God’s purpose in raising up Britain was to limit the power of the Roman Catholic Church, supported by Spain, and to spread the gospel through Protestant missionaries. In the past two hundred years the missionaries who went to Africa and Asia to preach the gospel were mainly from the Protestant Church. We believe that it was God’s doing to raise up Britain to maintain order on the earth for two hundred years and to take the gospel all over the world through many Protestant missionaries.
Nevertheless, the gospel preached by most of the Protestant missionaries was merely about forgiveness of sins and going to heaven after death. Some missionaries preached a slightly higher gospel about loving the Lord, fearing God, and pleasing God, and they exhorted people to improve their human conduct. However, this is a very shallow gospel. After Martin Luther and in coordination with the political changes on the earth, God raised up Madame Guyon, Andrew Murray, and other inner-life people. These believers knew Christ as life and also had a deeper pursuit of Christ.
In considering the political and religious situations in the world, we must have a panoramic, broad, and high view in order to see God’s wondrous doings. For two hundred years God used Britain to bring the gospel to all the nations in the world. After these two hundred years, however, God’s work with Britain came to an end. After World War I God’s move turned from Britain to the United States. World War I ended after the United States entered the war. World War II was also brought to an end by the United States. The United States played a critical role in both world wars.
After World War I President Wilson of the United States proposed the establishment of an international organization to oversee the relationships between different countries. Eventually, under the leadership of Britain and France, the League of Nations was established in Geneva, Switzerland, but the United States did not join. The League of Nations failed to fulfill its mission, especially in its inability to keep its promise related to China. On September 18, 1931, Japan invaded China and became the first country to violate the charter of the League of Nations. In 1935 Italy invaded Ethiopia, and in 1939 Germany invaded Poland. These three invasions buried the League of Nations and brought in World War II.
During World War II, God used the United States to bring the war to an end. After the war the United States became the leading country in the world. As a result, the United States formed the United Nations in New York City. After World War I the leading power shifted from Britain to the United States. Nearly every nation, such as China, Japan, France, and Britain, has been founded based on its race. The United States is an exception. It is a united country with different races merged together. The United States may be likened to a big melting pot, where white, black, Asian, and other races are melted together.
We must see God’s move in the universe from the perspective of world history. The United States was the first country that was not founded based on a single race; it is a united country with many different ethnicities. God’s work throughout the ages is for the manifestation of the one new man. Therefore, we believe that all the political changes on the earth are under God’s sovereignty for the fulfillment of His purpose.
After World War II the United States became the leading power in the world. The United States dominates the international realm in culture, politics, science, medicine, mathematics, and many other areas. Furthermore, the nations on the earth are no longer isolated. People travel everywhere in the world. Airports are filled with people. In the past there were few Chinese in the United States, but now there are at least two million Chinese; this is roughly one percent of the population of two hundred million in the United States. In other words, there is one Chinese for every one hundred people in the United States. This is not a small matter; it shows that the Americans and Chinese are blended.
One hundred years ago, it took six months for American missionaries to sail to China. Some missionaries suffered greatly from seasickness during that rough journey. Some died immediately after they reached China and were buried in China. When I was young, my family had contact with American missionaries, so I understand the hardships they experienced. At that time, traveling was not convenient. It took a year for a round trip between the United States and China. Transportation has advanced today. Within forty-eight hours, people can fly from China to the United States on a 747 airplane for business and return home safely. Furthermore, communication is very convenient. People can contact one another by telegram and telephone. There are also different kinds of audio and video equipment. All these things enhance communication among people and blend together people from all over the world. Although there are still distinctions in nationalities, no one can deny that this is an age of blending all the nations in the world.
On August 15, 1945, Japan surrendered. On September 2 Japan signed an official surrender, and World War II ended. In early September the Truman administration of the United States informed the Chinese government that the United States, Britain, and Russia had made an agreement at Yalta the previous February. This agreement allowed Stalin to gain territory in the northeast of China that had been taken by Japan. This agreement contradicted the interests of China. At that time I was recuperating from an illness in Tsingtao. When I heard this news, I was upset and grieved because I was clear that in order for the Lord’s gospel to have a free way on the earth, there must be the covering of a proper government. Any political change in China would deal a heavy blow to the propagation of the churches. I was concerned about this.
In 1949 I was sent by Brother Watchman Nee to Taiwan because of the urgency of the political situation in China. At that time Taiwan was underdeveloped; it had pebble roads, and people wore clogs. When we were in China, Brother Nee took the lead in the work. By 1949 there were hundreds of local churches in thirty-three provinces and major cities. The Lord’s work in China was prevailing, but due to the political change, I came to Taiwan. Every day I would lie depressed on my bed, staring at the ceiling and asking the Lord, “Why am I here?” I was frustrated. One day the Lord gave me the feeling to travel by train from station to station in order to visit the saints who had come from China. After this trip I became clear within that there was work to be done in Taiwan. Then I received the burden from the Lord to start the work on August 1, 1949.
Before the Lord returns, there will always be conflicts between nations. However, no country or nation can close its door and isolate itself; it must communicate with other nations. The different forms of communication benefit the preaching of the gospel and the producing of the one new man. The Lord planted a gospel nursery in mainland China. After 1949 the Lord moved this nursery to Taiwan, and from Taiwan He moved it to all the continents. In the first issue of The Ministry of the Word, published in 1951, there is a portion entitled “Concerning Our Coming to Taiwan,” which states that it was the Lord’s good pleasure to bring us to Taiwan. Taiwan is connected to Southeast Asia and to Northeast Asia. If we take Taiwan as the center, one day the Lord will spread His testimony to Southeast Asia and to Northeast Asia. In 1951 we did not think of the West. Today we thank and praise the Lord that not only are Southeast Asia and Northeast Asia connected to Taiwan, but even the West is connected to Taiwan.
It is not difficult to communicate with saints from different continents, because we are members of the same Body and share the same life. We are the one new man. On the one hand, we should be good, lawful, and loyal citizens in our respective countries. On the other hand, we are of one Body, we share the same life in the spirit, and we are the one new man.
I have been to many places. Hence, I can testify that I do not feel strange in Australia, New Zealand, South America, Japan, or Korea, because wherever I go, I am with my family — those who are of the same Body and share the same life with me. Our view should not be narrow or small. We should not think that it is sufficient to be saved, love the Lord, visit the saints, serve the Lord, and make the church prosper and flourish. Our view must be uplifted and enlarged to a universal view. Then we will know what the Lord is doing on the earth today. Whether in world politics or in international affairs, the Lord is working. If the Lord has uplifted and enlarged our view, we will see that all things are for the producing of the one new man.
The present means of communication between countries make it possible for all races to communicate with and know one another. The Lord’s leading in the truth in His recovery has reached the stage where we see that the Lord is after the one new man on the earth. We can no longer be believers with a narrow view. Instead, we must see that we are part of the universal one new man.
My first visit to Hualien was around the summertime in 1951 or 1952. I traveled from Kaohsiung to Taitung and then to Hualien. I did not take the perilous Suhua Highway, because I must take care of my life for the sake of the Lord’s commission. My initial desire was to have contact with a few brothers. However, the brothers gathered a good number of saints, who requested to hear a message. After this visit a church was established in Hualien. I later visited Hualien one or two more times. Once in the month of April in 1957, I brought a group of overseas saints from England, the United States, and Denmark, as well as some saints from Taipei. We went from Kaohsiung to Hualien not by train or car; we took the risk of flying in an airplane. We thank the Lord for His preservation. After the conference in Hualien, I brought all the visiting saints who were with me back to Taipei.
It has been twenty years since my last visit. When I got off the airplane this time, I was surprised at the new Hualien airport; it is decorated with marble inside and outside. Not only so, the roads and infrastructure in Hualien have improved. However, the church in Hualien is not up to date. Ten years ago there were more than one hundred people meeting here, but after ten years the number does not exceed two hundred. At the beginning of this chapter, we saw that God uses the political situation to pave the way for the spread of the gospel. All things work together for the church. Hence, the church should not be stagnant; rather, it should utilize the situation and be up to date.
I encourage the saints in Hualien to do two things for the spread of the Lord’s testimony in this place. First, you need to buy one thousand ping [Editor’s note: a ping is approximately 35.57 square feet] of land. You must not be satisfied with two hundred ping of land. In the future you will regret that you did not buy enough land. If the land is bought this year, in three years it will double in price. The sooner we buy the land, the more we will save. For the Lord’s testimony in Hualien, the brothers must be up to date. In the future Hualien will become a major city on the east coast of Taiwan. When there is an opportunity, we should buy a large piece of land in preparation for the spread of the Lord’s testimony.
Second, we need to aggressively gain people. I hope that by the end of the year there would be one hundred young people meeting in the church in Hualien. The number of young people in the church in Hualien is much smaller than the number of young people in the church in Taipei. Hence, the young people must pray desperately to the Lord. They should say, “Lord, in the last two months of this year, I must bring two people to the church.” Those who are under twenty-six years of age must answer the Lord’s call to bring in two people this year. We should not be concerned about bringing in false believers. Some people are initially false believers before they become genuine believers. I grew up in a Christian family. Before the age of nineteen, I was a false believer. Then I became a genuine believer. Therefore, we do not need to worry. By January 1 of next year each young person should bring in two people. We need to learn to give an account to the Lord. Currently, there are about thirty young people in the meetings. If everyone brings two people into the church life, by next January there will be one hundred young people in the meetings.
The rest of the saints should be encouraged to run once the young people begin to run. More middle-aged saints and young saints must be raised up to bear the responsibility of the church. I would ask the older saints to forgive me for saying a direct word. Because we are older in age, we should recognize the current situation and step aside. Every father is the same. Even when his son is almost fifty years old, and he has become a grandfather, he still sees his son as a child who does not know how to do things; hence, he continues to do things himself. The older saints should step aside so that the younger ones can take over. The younger ones may not know how to do things or may not do them as well as the older brothers. However, the more they do, the better they will become.
I hope that in the near future the Lord will raise up young adults between the ages of twenty-five and thirty-five to be elders in the church in Hualien. When those in this age group become elders, I believe that the number in the meetings will reach five hundred. Then we will need a meeting hall. We need to be wise and aware of the current situation, that is, aware of this age. We know that this is the age of the one new man. As the one new man, we must be up to date with the age of the one new man. I hope that from today the church will be completely new. This newness begins with the younger generation. In order for a family to be new, it must begin with the younger generation. Hence, every young person must take courage, pray, drink the living water, and have a fresh beginning. Then the Lord will have a way to gain a strong and bright testimony in Hualien.
