‘Let Us Make Man in Our Image’ vs. ‘the Preparation of the Bride’ (including Key Items, Process, Stages, and Goals)

‘Let Us Make Man in Our Image’ vs. ‘the Preparation of the Bride’ (including Key Items, Process, Stages, and Goals)

Genesis 1:26 Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals and over every creature that moves along the ground.”

Revelation 19:7 “Let us rejoice and be glad, and give glory to him, for the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has prepared herself.”

Revelation 19:8 “He will clothe her with fine linen, bright and clean, which represents the righteous deeds of His saints.”

Revelation 19:9 “Then the angel said to me, ‘Write this: Blessed are all who are invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb.’ And he said to me, ‘These are the true words of God.’”

 

Stage	Key Item of Preparation	Creation of Man (the Beginning)	Preparation of the Bride (Content)	Main Scriptures	Emphasis of Watchman Nee / Witness Lee	Goal
① God’s Intention	Knowing God’s intention	God desires to obtain a man who is like Him and can express Him	God desires to obtain a counterpart for Christ; the two are one and the same intention	Gen. 1:26; Eph. 1:4-5; Rev. 19:7	Nee: God wants a group of people who are like His Son. Lee: God’s economy is to dispense Himself into man	That our goal would be one with God’s goal
② Creation	Image and likeness	Man made according to God’s image (outward expression) and after His likeness (inward being), with spirit, soul, and body	Letting Christ’s image be formed in us	Gen. 1:26-27; Rom. 8:29; Gal. 4:19	Nee: the spirit is the organ for contacting God.  Lee: man is a vessel made to contain God	Conformity to God’s image
③ The First Man	The choice of the tree of life	The tree of life was set before man, who did not yet have God’s life	Taking Christ as life and enjoying Him	Gen. 2:9, 16-17; John 6:57; Rev. 2:7	Lee: the tree of life signifies God Himself as life, for man to receive	Obtaining God’s life
④ Redemption	Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection	Eve came out of Adam’s side	The church comes out of Christ’s death and resurrection to be His counterpart	Gen. 2:21-24; John 19:34; Eph. 5:25-32	Nee and Lee both see this as the origin of the church	Becoming Christ’s counterpart
⑤ Regeneration	Receiving God’s life	Created man, into whom God’s life had not yet entered	Regenerated in the spirit; the starting point of preparation	John 3:3, 5; 1 Pet. 1:23	Lee: God’s life is the foundation of everything	Qualification as the bride
⑥ The Courtship	First love; the leading of the Holy Spirit	The intimacy of Adam and Eve as counterparts	Loving the Lord singly; the Spirit leads us to draw near to Christ	Rev. 2:4; 2 Cor. 11:2; Gen. 24; Rom. 8:14	Love for the Lord is the first condition of the bride; the Spirit is like the servant in the story of Rebekah	Establishing a relationship of love with Christ
⑦ Dealing	Dealing of the cross	Man was entrusted with dominion and had not yet experienced breaking	Dealing with the self, the flesh, and the natural man	Matt. 16:24; Gal. 2:20; Esth. 2:12	Nee: brokenness is the path of the spiritual man (The Spiritual Man). Esther’s twelve months of perfumes foreshadow this	The natural life broken
⑧ Transformation	Growth in life; renewing of the soul	Man’s nature did not yet contain God’s element	Christ makes His home in our hearts; we are transformed in life and nature	Eph. 3:17-19; 2 Cor. 3:18; Rom. 12:2	Lee: transformation is the adding of the divine element into us, so that we become the same as God in life and nature (not in the Godhead)	Conformed to the image of God’s Son; attaining the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ (Rom. 8:29; Eph. 4:13)
⑨ Living Out	Living Christ; the fine linen	Man was to express God	Living out Christ’s righteous acts in daily life	Rev. 19:8; Phil. 1:21	Lee: the fine linen is the expression of Christ living in the saints, not merely our own good doing	Expressing Christ
⑩ Overcoming	Overcoming decline and the world	Entrusted with dominion and dealing with God’s enemy	Becoming overcomers in a fallen environment and reigning with Christ	Gen. 1:26, 28; Rev. 2-3; 2:26-27; 20:4, 6	Nee and Lee both stress that overcomers are the reality of the Lord’s obtaining the bride	Reigning with Christ and ending the enemy
⑪ Watchfulness	Hope and vigilance	None	Longing for the Lord’s coming, with oil (the Spirit) prepared to meet Him	Matt. 25:1-13; Rev. 22:17, 20	The oil signifies the Holy Spirit	Not being shut out of the door
⑫ Building	Being the Body; the corporate bride	Man is corporate (Gen. 1:27, “them”)	Not individuals but the Body, built up together	Eph. 4:16; Rev. 21:2	Lee: the bride is the New Jerusalem, a corporate expression	Becoming Christ’s Body and bride
⑬ The Lord’s Coming	The wedding feast	None	The bride has made herself ready, is received by the Lord, and the wedding feast of the Lamb takes place	Rev. 19:7-9; Matt. 25:10	Lee: there are two aspects, the overcomers and all believers (views differ on this point, so read the originals carefully)	Sharing the wedding feast with Christ
⑭ Consummation	The New Jerusalem	Gold, pearl, and onyx stone (Gen. 2:12) foreshadow God’s nature, redemption, and transformation	The bride and the city become one; God and man dwell in each other	Gen. 2:12; Rev. 21:2-3, 9-11, 18-21	Nee: a glorious church without blemish. Lee: God and man mingled, becoming an eternal expression	God’s eternal dwelling and expression, fulfilling the original purpose of creation

Summary

Creation is the beginning of the image, and the preparation of the bride is the completion of the image. The course runs from creation (①②③), through redemption and regeneration (④⑤), through dealing and transformation (⑥⑦⑧), living out and overcoming (⑨⑩), building and meeting the Lord (⑫⑬), and finally to the New Jerusalem (⑭).

 

*Please refer to the April 2026 Summer Training General Topic: Believers, Chapter Twelve: The Maturity of the Bride and Groom, and Being Warriors to Defeat God's Enemy.