Nee/Lee — Eschatology
b3 — Basic Elements of the Christian Life, Volume 1
Second Coming and Glorification
After regeneration, God begins the lifelong process of gradually spreading Himself as life from the believer’s spirit into his soul (Eph. 3:17). This process, called transformation (Rom. 12:2), requires human cooperation (Phil. 2:12). The believer cooperates by allowing the Lord to spread into his soul until all his desires, thoughts, and decisions become one with those of Christ. Finally, at Christ’s return, God will fully saturate the believer’s body with His life. This is called glorification (Phil. 3:21).
“Finally, at Christ’s return, God will fully saturate the believer’s body with His life. This is called glorification (Phil. 3:21).” (Nee/Lee, Basic Elements of Christian Life, Vol. 1, ch. 1; referencing Phil. 3:21)
Interpretation: Glorification is the final goal of God’s full salvation — the body is saturated with God’s life at Christ’s return, not before that time.
Eschatological Timeline and the End of the Age
At the end of this age, Christ will come back to take up His believers, to judge the world, to take possession of the earth, and to establish His eternal Kingdom.
“At the end of this age, Christ will come back to take up His believers, to judge the world, to take possession of the earth, and to establish His eternal Kingdom.” (Nee/Lee, Basic Elements of Christian Life, Vol. 1, ch. 5; referencing points 8-9 in the statement of faith)
Millennium and the New Jerusalem
The overcoming saints will reign with Christ in the millennium, and all the believers in Christ will participate in the divine blessings in the New Jerusalem in the new heaven and the new earth for eternity.
“The overcoming saints will reign with Christ in the millennium, and all the believers in Christ will participate in the divine blessings in the New Jerusalem in the new heaven and the new earth for eternity.” (Nee/Lee, Basic Elements of Christian Life, Vol. 1, ch. 5; referencing Rev. 20-21)
Interpretation: The millennium is a literal reigning period of overcoming saints with Christ, followed by the eternal state in the New Jerusalem (new heaven/new earth). This reflects a futurist, premillennial perspective.
New Creation
In the new heaven and the new earth, the New Jerusalem is the ultimate expression of God’s eternal plan for His people. Believers will there enjoy the divine blessings for eternity.
“All the believers in Christ will participate in the divine blessings in the New Jerusalem in the new heaven and the new earth for eternity.” (Nee/Lee, Basic Elements of Christian Life, Vol. 1, ch. 5)