Verse 1

The work of managing mankind

is divided in three stages,

which means the work of saving man

is divided in three stages.

These three stages do not include

the work where the world God creates.

They’re rather three stages of work

of Age of Kingdom, Law and Grace.

Chorus

The three stages of work are the inside story

of God’s management of man,

the advent of the gospel of the entire universe.

It’s the greatest mystery among the whole of mankind.

It’s also the foundation of the gospel being spread.

Verse 2

The work of creating the world

was the work of forming mankind,

not the work of saving mankind.

It’s unrelated to that kind,

for when the world was created,

man wasn’t corrupted by Satan.

There was no need to carry out

the work of mankind’s salvation.

Chorus

The three stages of work are the inside story

of God’s management of man,

the advent of the gospel of the entire universe.

It’s the greatest mystery among the whole of mankind.

It’s also the foundation of the gospel being spread.

Verse 3

God’s management of man began

from the work of saving mankind.

The work of creating the world

isn’t where His management would arise.

It was only when man acquired

a disposition that’s corrupt

that the work of God’s management

of mankind came into being.

Chorus

The three stages of work are the inside story

of God’s management of man,

the advent of the gospel of the entire universe.

It’s the greatest mystery among the whole of mankind.

It’s also the foundation of the gospel being spread.

Verse 4

Managing man involves three parts,

not four stages nor four ages.

Only this is the correct way

to refer to God’s management.

When the final age comes to close,

the work of managing man ends.

It means work of saving man is done,

man reaches his journey’s end.

Chorus

The three stages of work are the inside story

of God’s management of man,

the advent of the gospel of the entire universe.

It’s the greatest mystery among the whole of mankind.

It’s also the foundation of the gospel being spread.

Bridge

As creatures of God you should know

that by God man is created,

and you should also recognize

how man’s corrupted, how he’s saved.

If you’re fixed on simple truths of life,

blind to this greatest mystery,

isn’t your life like a damaged thing,

good for nothing but being seen?

Chorus

The three stages of work are the inside story

of God’s management of man,

the advent of the gospel of the entire universe.

It’s the greatest mystery among the whole of mankind.

It’s also the foundation of the gospel being spread.

Adapted from “Knowing the Three Stages of God’s Work Is the Path to Knowing God” in The Word Appears in the Flesh