I

The work of managing mankind is divided into three stages,

which means that the work of saving mankind

is divided into three stages.

These three stages do not include the work of creating the world,

but are rather the three stages of the work

of the Age of Law, the Age of Grace, and the Age of Kingdom.

The work of creating the world was the work

of producing the whole of mankind.

It wasn’t the work of saving mankind,

and bears no relation to the work of saving mankind,

for when the world was created, man hadn’t been corrupted by Satan,

and so there was no need to carry out the work of mankind’s salvation.

II

God’s management of man began as a result of the work of saving mankind,

and did not arise from the work of creating the world.

It was only after mankind acquired a corrupt disposition

that the work of management came into existence,

and so the work of managing mankind includes three parts,

rather than four stages, or four ages.

When the final age comes to a close,

the management work will have come to a complete end.

The conclusion of the work of management

means that the work of saving all mankind

will have been completely finished,

and that this phase will thenceforth have concluded for mankind.

III

As created beings, you should recognize that man was created by God,

and you should recognize the source of mankind’s corruption,

and, moreover, the process of man’s salvation.

The three stages of work are the inside story of God’s management of man;

they are the advent of the gospel of the whole world,

the advent of the gospel of the whole world;

they are the greatest mystery among all mankind,

and they are also the foundation of spreading the gospel.

If you only focus on understanding simple truths that relate to your life,

and know nothing of this, the greatest of all mysteries and visions,

then is your life not akin to a defective product,

good for nothing except being looked at?

from The Word, Vol. 1. The Appearance and Work of God. Knowing the Three Stages of God’s Work Is the Path to Knowing God