In the Holy Scriptures spiritual life is often pictured as a spiritual journey. In reviewing Watchman Nee's life we can easily notice four distinct stages in his spiritual journey. The first stage covers the years from 1920 to 1928: from his regeneration to his basic spiritual training. The second stage comprises the years from 1928 to 1942: the period from the expansion of the work to his withdrawal from ministry. The third stage encompasses the years from 1942 to 1952: that is, from brother Nee's withdrawal from ministry to his captivity by the Chinese Communists. The final stage covers the years from 1952 to 1972: from his arrest and imprisonment to his death. All four stages are clearly reflected in either brother Nee's writings or his spoken ministry.
