9原则上，我们的情形与挪亚的情形完全一样。今天的世代是败坏的，地上充满了邪恶和强暴。照着人的观念，神似乎已被击败，且被赶离这地。然而我们有没有看清，今天有一个大的“但”字？……我们承继了已往历世纪所实行一切敬虔的路。那我们该不该停在这里？……不该！虽然我们承继了这许多敬虔的事物，并且满意又满足，但是神如何？神的目的如何？神需要结束这个时代。神需要世代的改变。神需要一只方舟，可以将祂的子民从这世代带出来，并开始一个新的时代。神不仅给挪亚看见那邪恶的世代，也向他启示了祂的心意。神从前是，现在仍是一位有目的的神；在祂的目的上，祂永不会被击败。多年前，神给我们看见了祂的目的。你们许多人读过倪弟兄亲自作的见证，说到他有一次作了一个梦，意思是得了启示，看见中国各地都兴起了地方召会。他看见神兴起的众召会。他所说的梦，实际上就是启示。很多年以前，神借着倪弟兄给我们看见，祂需要众召会。在主再来之前，需要有众召会兴起来。不然的话，祂无法回来。今天的方舟是什么？……乃是众召会。神向挪亚启示了方舟；我也必须见证，神向我们启示了正确召会生活的需要。正确的召会生活就是神今天所需要的方舟。要结束这世代并带进新时代，必须有召会生活。
9In principle, our situation is exactly the same as Noah’s. Today’s generation is corrupt, and the earth is filled with evil and violence. It seems that, according to man’s concept, God has been defeated and driven out of the earth. However, do you not realize that today there is a big “but”?…We have inherited all the godly ways that were exercised in the past centuries. But should we stop here?…No. Although we have inherited so many godly things and are satisfied and contented, how about God? How about God’s purpose? God needs to terminate this age. He needs a change of generation. He needs an ark that can bring His people out of this generation and start a new age. God not only showed Noah the evil generation but also revealed to him His intention. God was and still is a God of purpose, and He can never be defeated in His purpose. Years and years ago, God showed us His purpose. Many of you have read Brother Nee’s own testimony in which he says that once he had a dream, meaning a revelation, in which he saw local churches raised up throughout China. He saw churches raised up by God. What he called a dream was actually a revelation. Through him, many years ago, God showed us His need of the churches. Before the Lord comes back, He needs the churches to be raised up. Otherwise, He will have no way to return. What is today’s ark?…It is the churches. God revealed the ark to Noah, and I must testify that God has revealed to us the need for the proper church life. The proper church life is the ark God needs today. The church life is needed to terminate this generation and to bring in a new age.