The Old Testament is written for our learning
For "whatsoever things were written aforetime (Old Testament) were written for our learning, that we through
patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope." (Rom.15:4) Furthermore "brethren (saints, men and women)  I would not that ye should be ignorant how...all these things (that happened to the children of Israel) happened unto them for "ensamples."¹ (i.e. "types"- models, sketchy outlines. Strong's Greek)

This instruction is inspired by the Holy Spirit of God!
The word "model" and "sketchy outline"² comes from the King James word, "ensamples." (1Cor.10:11)  Jesus
said, "think not that I have come to destroy the Law (i.e. the types, models, shadows, sketchy outlines)...I am not
come to destroy but to fulfill..." (Matt.5:17-19)  In fact Jesus said that He would fulfill every "jot" (the smallest letter in the Hebrew alphabet) and every "title." (the accent of certain letters). Therefore all the types and shadows of the Law (which includes Israel's journey from Egypt to Solomon's Temple) are to be fulfilled (completed) in us the Church, because we are the body of Christ. (Rom.8:1-4; 3:21-31, Heb.10:1)

The "model" begins with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob
The journey (i.e. the Covenant line) begins with God calling Abraham³ out of Ur of the Chaldees. (Gen.12:1-3;
15:1-21; 17:1-8; 22:15-19) "Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee,
and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing." (Gen.12:1-2)

1. Abraham (A type of The father, God)
      Abraham (Abram - Gen.17:5) is a type of the Father. (Rom.4:11, John.8:33-44) "he received the sign of
      circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the  
      father of all them that believe." (Rom.4:11)
             

2. Isaac (A type of The only begotten Son, Jesus)
      Isaac is acknowledged as a type of the only begotten Son who was offered up as a sacrifice. (Gen.22:2,
       Heb.11:17-19 / Gen.22:1-14, John.3:16)

              
           
3. Jacob (Who becomes a type of The Holy Spirit)
      The question arises, "How can Jacob be a type of the Holy Spirit, because his name means a "supplanter." He  
      cheated Esau out of his birthright?" (Gen.25:19-34) Today we would never have identified with Jacob, however
      "our thoughts are not His thoughts." (Isa.55:8, Dan.4:35, Rom.9:20, 1Cor.1:19-29; 2:1-14) Note: Saul / Paul
      a. Reasons why Jacob becomes a type of the Holy Spirit
           (1)  Because God identified Himself with three   
                  When speaking to Moses God "said, I am the...God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of
                  Jacob." (Exod.3:6-7, Mat.12:26)  
                (a)  Because God is triune
                         Jesus declared that there is "The Father...the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Abraham (typifies God The
                         Father) and Isaac (typifies God the Son) this would identify Jacob as a type of God the Holy Spirit.
                  (b)  Everything must be established in two or three
                         Abraham, "The "Father and the Son, (Isaac) which points Jacob to being a type of "...the Holy
                         Ghost." (Matt.28:19) God is established Himself with the mouth of two or three witnesses.
                            (Gen.41:32, Deut.17:6; 19:15, Eccl.4:12, Matt.18:16, 2Cor.13:1) 
          (2)  Because Jacob cannot be separated from Abraham and Isaac
                The Covenants come from Abraham, (The Father Gen.12:1-2; 15:1-21; 17:1-14;) to Isaac (The only
                  begotten Son Gen.21:1-12), to Jacob (Whose name was changed to Israel. Gen.28:3-4)
           (3)  Because it is Abraham, Isaac and Jacob that begins Israel's journey                 
                  This was the foundation (Abraham, Isaac and Jacob) for the Nation of Israel, the Church in the
                  wilderness.
           
                  (a)  The "Godhead" (Trinity") is the foundation in the reality of the Church today.   
                         As foreshadowed by the example of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the "Godhead," (The Father, Son
                         and Holy Spirit) produced the New Testament Church. (The reality of the "Church in the wilderness"
                             (Acts.7:38) Jesus said, "When he, the Spirit of truth, (The Holy Spirit / Jacob) is come, he will
                         guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he
                         speak: and he will shew you things to come. (Acts.1-28, 1Cor.2:1-14) He shall glorify me: for he shall
                         receive of mine, (Jesus / Isaac) and shall shew it unto you. All things that the Father (Father God /
                         Abraham hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you."
                            (John.16:13-16)
                  (b)  From Jacob came the Church in the wilderness
                             Jacob had twelve sons. (Gen.49:1-33) From these twelve sons there came the twelve Tribes of
                         Israel, (Num.1-4) or "the Church in the wilderness." (Acts.7:38) There was the Father God (Abraham) 
                         who gave us Jesus, (Isaac) who produced the New Testament Church by the Holy Spirit. (Acts.1-28)
                         An "admonition" to us today! (1Cor.10:1-11, Rom.15:4)

             

                     (c)  Jacob was given the birthright because Esau despised it 
                         Esau despised his birthright (Gen.25:19-34, Heb.12:16) as did Israel, (the children of the flesh of
                         Abraham, the Jews today. Rom.9:1-33, Acts.3:13-16, John.1:11, Dan.9:26-27) The "birthright" went to
                         the Church (Matt.21:43, 1Peter.2:9) that did not deserve it, (Eph.2:1-19) like Jacob. Paul uses Jacob
                         and Esau, to explain God's choices. (Rom.9:1-33) This came to pass by the Holy Ghost (Spirit)
          (4)  Named changed to "Israel" 
                  Throughout the Word of God, the name means to character.(Gen.32:27-29, Gen.3:20; 17:5, 15;
                     25:25, Matt.1:23 / John.1:1, 14) We have been given a name changed, (Matt.28:19) and we are presently
                  being changed from "glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." (2Cor.3:18)     

4. As in the "model" or journey begins with the "Godhead"
      Mat.1:1 or the "trinity." If we deny His triune being, then our journey has not begun. This is why leaving scriptures
      out or changing the Greek concerning the Divinity of Christ is a serious error with eternal consequences. It is a
      heaven or hell issue, because if Jesus is not God manifest in the flesh, we are yet in our Sins and bound for Hell!
      a. Neither Ishmael or Esau began the journey
           (1) Ishmael
                 Wherefore "she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the son of this bondwoman
                 shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac." (Gen.21:10-11, Gal.4:21-31)
               (a) Ishmael (flesh that "mocks" the promise of God)  
                       But "he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.
                       Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which
                       gendereth to bondage, which is Agar." (Gal.4:23-24) Note: v.9
                 (b) Isaac an "allegory" of the Promise
                       Now we, brethren, (Church) as Isaac was, are the children of promise. But as then he that was born
                       after the flesh (Ishmael Gen.16:1-6) persecuted him (Isaac Gen.15:1-6; 18:9-15; 21:1-1-5) that was born
                       after the Spirit, even so it is now. Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and
                       her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the free woman. So then,
                       brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free." (Gal.4:28-31)
           (2) Esau      
                 Esau despised his birthright (Gen.25:34) that was part of the "the seed" that "should come to whom the
                 promise was made." (Gal.3:19, Rom.9:1-6) Esau was despising this Covenant line. Jesus. (Gal.3:1-17)
      b.  All the other Nations (Gentiles / Heathen) were outside the Covenants of Promise
            That "at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the
            covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world." (Eph.2:12-13)

               What awaited them in the land was the Tabernacle of    
                    David and Solomon's Temple.  (Read Joshua - 2Chron.5)
                                                             (See Phase 7)
                               
What was David's Tabernacle?
The Tabernacle (tent) of David was a "cloth hut"¹³ that housed the Ark of the Covenant in Mt. Zion. (1Chron.13:3, 7-14; 15:1-29; 16:1-43) Until this time the Ark of the Covenant belonged in the Tabernacle of Moses. (Exod.25:8-22; 40:20-38) Only the high priest had access once a year, (Heb.9:1-7) but now God was doing a  NEW THING !  Now the Ark was  being made available by king David at anytime, not just to the high priest once a year. "All this, said David, the Lord made me understand in writing by his hand upon me, even all the works of this pattern" (1Chron.28:19)  God gave David the authority to make the Ark available!  There were others that assumed to handle to Ark in their own way, without God's authority and were judged. (Num.14:44-45, 1Sam.4:1-11 [1Sam.2:11-12], 1Sam.5:1-12; 6:1-21, 2Sam.6:1-7) David was blessed because he was serving his generation by the will of God. (Acts.13:22, 36)

                                     

1. The apostle James interprets
      The apostle James "infallibly" interprets the Tabernacle of David to be the answer for the Jew and Gentile
      being made one in Christ Jesus. (Acts.15:1-18 More details, Phase #7) From the day of Pentecost (Acts.2:1)
      until Philip preached at Samaria, (Acts.8:5-17) the Church at Jerusalem had kept the presence of God exclusively to 
       themselves. (This was not God's intention, or purpose, it was to "as many as the Lord our God shall call." Acts.2:39) 
      God the Father, by-passed the Church at Jerusalem and gave Jesus the Son the authority (John.16:13-15,
       Acts.2:29-36, 1Chron.28:19 "pattern") to make His presence available to the Gentiles. (This is seen in the typical
      actions of David,14  when he set Asaph and his brethren around the Ark of the Covenant. (1Chron.16:37)
      ___________________________________________________________________________________
     
       Note: This is the apostle (James) and the prophet (Amos), laying the foundation, Jesus Christ (Amos.9:11-12, 
       Eph.2:20-22, 1 Peter.1:10-12, 1Cor.3:10-11, 2Peter.3:1-2) giving direction and foundation that was needed to keep the
      Church on schedule and "according to the pattern."15  
     
                               James is reaffirming that the Church is right on course!

                         

2. The apostle Paul interprets more of the pattern to the Hebrews.
       The Hebrew Christians were in danger of "slipping" (Heb.2:1) backwards in the pattern. They were supposed to
      be "teachers" but they needed to be taught the "first principles of the oracles of God." (The doctrine of Christ
      Heb.6:1-3) The apostles doctrine (Acts.2:42) to them was,
      a. Don't wander in a spiritual wilderness
           Don't fail to move on in God's purpose and wander in the wilderness through unbelief. (Heb.37-19: 4:1-11) 
      b. Don't withdraw
           Don't go backwards to Mt. Sinai. (Tabernacle of Moses) Heb.12:18-21
     c.  Keep pace with the guidance of the Holy Spirit
           Come on up to Zion. (Heb.3:7-19; 4:1-11; 12:18-22) (Tabernacle of David)

3. Paul uses the pattern to the Ephesians
      Paul wrote that the finished Church would be "an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for
      an habitation of God through the Spirit. For this cause...(The cause that God wants to build the Church into a Holy
      Temple, God has)...made known unto me...the mystery of Christ." (Eph.2:1-22; 3:1-4)  That the Gentiles should
      be fellow heirs...of the same body...partakers of his promise in Christ by the Gospel."  

     This is the Tabernacle of David!

      The Tabernacle of David preceded Solomon's Temple. (1Chron.28:1-20) It was a time of preparation for the place,
      where they were to be "planted" and "move no more." (1Chron.17:1-9)  This was the completion of their journey
      from Egypt to the Promised Land. (Gen.12:1; 15:13-14, Exod.2:24-25; 12:1-15, Deut.12:1-12, 1Chron.17:1-9; 22:1-19)

                                  
     There is NO record of the early Church reaching the fulfillment Solomon's¹⁶ (Note: Solomon's Temple was
     the center of the earthly City of the Jerusalem, a "ensample" (type, model, blueprint) of the heavenly City of
     Jerusalem. (Gal.4:21-31, Heb.12:18-22) The same City that Abraham looked for. (Heb.11:8-10)

It took three times to enter the Land 
Remember: This purpose is to reach David's Tabernacle and Solomon's Temple. The first time they failed because
of unbelief. (Num.13-14:1-45)  The second time, the king of Edom refused "to give them passage." (Num.20:14-21) 
The third time, they entered under the leadership of Joshua. (Deut.34:1-12, [Num.20:7-12], Josh.1-6) The early, first century Church did the same thing, they failed to enter into the purpose of God, "...that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ by the gospel." (Eph.2-3:6) (Remember: This is the Tabernacle of David)

1. The first time was after Pentecost (Sinai) (Acts.1:4-8; 2:1-47)
      They were to take Gospel to Judea, Samaria and the uttermost part of the earth. (The Land) Instead they stayed
      at Jerusalem, therefore God spread them through persecution. (Acts.2-8:4; 11:19-21) Then we find Philip preaching
      to the Samaritans. (John.4:9) However, they were still "preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only."  They
      were failing to enter into God's Purpose to reconcile both Jew and Gentile together, (i.e. The Tabernacle of David)
      yet God was remaining faithful to His purpose! (Eph.2-3:1-12, 2 Tim.2:13, Heb.6:13-20, Num.23:19)
                      .

2. The second time was when Peter was sent to the house of Cornelius
     Cornelius was a Gentile who was without Christ, alien "from the commonwealth of Israel...having no hope, and
     without God in the world." (Acts.10:1-48, Eph.2:1-19) Cornelius and his house did not qualify to come before God's
     presence, yet God in His grace and mercy set them around the Ark of His presence, The Lord Jesus Christ. When
     Peter went back to Jerusalem they "contended with him" because he went to the "uncircumcised." (They were failing
     to enter the land, i.e. accepting that God had cleansed the Gentile by faith in His blood.) They wanted to justify
     the Gentiles in the flesh. (Edom, Esau) (Gal.4:21-31, Gen.16:1-15; 21:1-10)  

3. The third time was Acts.15:1-17
     The early Church first realized that God had brought them into "the land" when James declared they were at the
     rebuilding of the Tabernacle of David. (Acts.15:1-17) The "fellowship of the mystery, which was [hid] from the
     beginning of the world,"  that is the Jew and Gentile made one in Christ. (Eph.2:1-19; 3:5-6, 9)

Entering the Land until David's Tabernacle
The unbelieving generation from Mt. Sinai generation did not continue in God's Purpose. This would compare to those that experienced Pentecost at Jerusalem / Sinai that would not move on with God. God blessed and provided
for them as He did for the Church in the wilderness, but they eliminated themselves from God's purpose. The younger generation went in and possessed the land, but some failed to possess their inheritance and they became "thorns" in their sides. (Josh.18:1-3, Judges.1-21. Note; Judges.2:3; 3:1-4) This would compare to those at Antioch which became the "launching pad" for the Gospel going to the Gentiles, the Tabernacle of David. (Acts.11:19-26)  However, corruption "crept in unawares" to the generation that went in. (Jude.1:4, Ruth, 1Sam.1-6) 
     
                 Note: In the "ensample" (type, model, sketchy outline) David subdued the inhabitants of
                 the Land, that were "thorns" in their sides and Solomon built the Temple. However, the first
                 century Church did not realize the fulfillment of Solomon's Temple and "backslid" to Egypt, i.e.
                 the "dark ages."

Why did the 1st.Century Church stop?
By the end of the first century, after the death of the apostle John, there was no more evidence of the apostolic and prophetic ministries taking place in the Church. Some perceived this to be God stopping these ministries after John. They say that today there are only evangelists, and pastor / teachers. (Eph.4:11-16) This is a misunderstanding of God's Word, and His "blueprint" for the Church. John was not an apostle because of who John was, (1Cor.3:5-7, Phil.3:1-8, 1Cor.27-29) John was an apostle because of the gift that Jesus gave him. (Eph.4:8-11) Therefore, the question should be, did the gift stop? The answer is no, because the gift of the apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor and teacher are needed17 "until" the Church comes to the "unity of the faith...unto a perfect man, (1Cor.13:9-12) unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ." (Eph.4:11-16) This has not happened yet!  (This will be the fulfillment of Solomon's Temple.- Eph.2:20-22, 1Peter.2:5-9) Temple, House, Sanctuary, Mature man, Bride) These are all speaking of the same end result, the "mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." (Phil.3:1-16)

It was not God that stopped, it was the Church that stopped and forsook truth.

1. God is a finisher! 
      He does not start something and not finish it. (Luke.14:25-33)  He has foreshadowed His purpose using the
      children of Israel, (1Cor.10:1-11, Rom.15:4) and will complete His purpose. "If we believe not, yet He abideth faithful:
      He CANNOT deny Himself." (2Tim.2:13, Heb.6:16, James.1:17, Num.23:19)

2. God does not changed!
      Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. (Heb.13:8, Mal.3:6, James.1:17)  On the day of Pentecost,
      Peter declared the promise of repentance, baptism and receiving the Holy Ghost is "unto you (the people standing
      before him) and to your children (the next generation) and to all that are afar off, (The Gentiles - Note: Eph.2:13)
      even as many as the Lord our God shall call." (Acts.2:39) God has not stopped calling, therefore the promise is
      still for today's Church.

3. Now we know in part
      We prophesy in part, but when that which is perfect is come...." (context:becoming a man - v.11-12) , then that
      which is in part shall be done away. The perfect man, is the Church coming to the "measure of the stature of the
      fullness of Christ." (Eph.4:11-16) Therefore the repentance from dead works, water baptism, Holy Spirit baptism, 
      the gifts of the Spirit, the apostle, prophet evangelist, pastor and teacher are still needed today, because the
      Church has not measured up yet to the fullness of Christ.

      Note: Some say that this will never happen until Jesus returns. This is a misconception because, coming to the
      fullness of Christ is part of the "mystery of God" (Rom.16:25-26, 1Cor.2:7, Eph.3:3,9; 5:32) that is finished
      before Jesus can return. (Rev.10:7, Acts.3:20-21) That is why we are still here!
     _____________________________________________________________________________________

     The House of God (the first century Church) fell into corruption and ruin because the foundational ministries
     of the apostle and prophet were forsaken. (Eph.2:20-22, Psa.11:3) However, because God is faithful (2Tim.2:13)
     to fulfill His purpose, regardless of what man does, (Heb.6:13-19) He is restoring what "the locust hath eaten.
      (Joel.2:23-27  Locust is the philosophy, vain deceit, traditions and rudiments of this world, and not after 
     Christ.- Col.2:8)

The 1st. Cent. Church and the life of Samson

1. The angel of the Lord appeared to Samson's mother, (Judges.13:2-7)
       The angel told her that Samson would deliver them from their enemy. The angel of the Lord appeared to Mary,
      and was told that Jesus (who is the head of the body, the Church) would deliver those in bondage to the god of 
      this world. (Luke.1:28, 2Cor.4:4, Eph.2:1-11, Rom.3:23; 5:12-21)
            
2. Samson was to be separate unto the Lord.
      He was to take the vow of a "Nazarite." (Num.6:1-12)  The Church, the body of Christ was to be separated unto
      God fulfilling this law. (Matt.5:17-19, John.14:30, 2Cor.6:14-18) 

3. Samson experienced victories over the Philistines
      The Lord blessed him and the Spirit of God began to move upon him. (Judges.13:24-25)  The 1st.Century Church  
      had God's blessing and the Spirit of God upon them, and within them. There were miracles, people being set  free
      and gathered into the kingdom of God with great power of the Holy Ghost. (Acts.2-28)

                      

4. The Church like Samson was  warned (Judges.13:4-5; 14:1-3)
      The Church was warned in the epistles of the coming danger and spiritual decline. (Note how these epistles
      were written during 60-90 AD.) a short time before the spiritual decline would take place after the death of John.

      
     a. To the Ephesian Church - 60 AD. 
          Paul said, "...after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of you own
          selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things..." (Acts.20:29-30)  Watch for the "cunning craftiness, whereby
          they lie in wait to deceive." (Eph.4:14)  Be "strong in the Lord...put on the whole amor of God...to stand against the
          wiles of the devil." (Eph.6:10-11)
     b. General Epistle of Jude - 65 AD.
          "For there are  certain men crept in unawares (Stealthy, under the radar)...turning the grace of our God into
          lasciviousness, and denying the...our Lord Jesus Christ." (Jude.1:3-4) 
     c. To the Corinthian Church - 56 AD. 
          Watch for those that "...preacheth another Jesus...another spirit...or another Gospel...For such are false
          apostles, deceitful workers...transforming themselves as the ministers of righteousness..." (2Cor.11:1-4) Watch
          for those "which corrupt the Word of God..." (2Cor.2:14)
     d. To the Churches of Galatia - 56 AD. "...there be some that trouble you, and would pervert
          the gospel of Christ." (Gal.1:1-8) 
     e. To the Church at Phillipi - 60 AD. 
          "Beware of dogs (unsaved, unredeemed, those that reject Christ's Deity)...evil workers...concision."   
           (Phil.3:2) "...they are the enemies of the cross of Christ." (Phil.3:18) 
     f.  To the Church at Colosse - 60 AD.
          "Let no man beguile you...in a voluntary humility and worshiping of angels, intruding into those things which he
          hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind." (Col.2:18) 
     h. The General epistle of John - 90 AD.
          John warned of the "...antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists;...they went out from us;
          for...they were not all of us." (1John.2:18-27) These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce
          you." (1John.2:26-27)
      i. To them that have obtained like precious faith with us - 60-68 AD. 
         There will be those that "are unlearned and unstable wrest (twist, torture)..the...scriptures, unto their own
          destruction." (2Peter.3:16)

          These warnings were NOT heeded and the Church turned aside as Samson did. (Judges.14:1-8)

5. The Church like Samson failed to have a hearing ear
      They "turned aside to see the carcase (or the dead works Heb.6:1, Eph.2:1, Matt.23:27) of (our adversary
       1Peter.5:8) the (defeated Col.2:15) lion." (Judges.14:5-8)  The Church like Samson handled it and tasted the
      honey in it and it defiled their vow of separation, as a Nazarite. (Col.2:21) The result of this mixture and lack of
      separation from the "philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men," (Col.2:8) was the replacement of   
      Apostle and Prophet ministries by man's government and authority. (100 AD?)  They did not take heed to the
      warnings of the apostles Paul, John and Peter. 

      Note: The responsibility of the apostle and prophet is for the foundation of the Church, Jesus Christ. (Matt.16:18,
       Eph.2:20-22, 1Cor.3:10-11, Psa.11:3)  This forsaking of the apostle and prophet began the decay of the Church,
      because the foundation was gone. (Eph.2:20-22)   

                         .


6. By the second century, the "laying on of hands" vanished (Heb.6:2) 
       It became a dead ritual. The doctrine of the "laying on of hands of the presbytery" (1Tim.4:14) is one of the "first
      principles of the doctrine of Christ," who has never changed His doctrine. (Heb.6:1-2; 13:8)  The doctrine of the
      "laying on of hands" is God confirming how He has "set" you in the body as it has "pleased Him." The Church
      decided they would appoint leaders as it pleased them. (1Tim.4:14, 2Tim.1:6, 1Cor.12:18)

          Note: With this decay of truth came also the corruption of God's Word. The Greek manuscripts were "notoriously"corrupted within 100 years
        and agreement between them was hopeless.13 What is interesting, they were claiming to be correcting them just as the modern translations
        do today. This corruption and decay is the foundation for our modern translations. Review Phase 1

        (Compare this period of time with the Church at Ephesus (Rev.2:1-7) and the parable of the Sower. (Matt.13:1-23)

    
7. Baptism in the Holy Ghost and the Gifts of the Spirit. Gone 150 AD.(?) 
      Only a "form of godliness" remained. Jesus told the apostles they needed "the promise of the Father" and He has
      not changed His doctrine. (Acts.1:1-8, Heb.6:1-3; 13:8) 

      It is was man that changed his mind!  God did not stop!

      Paul, (who was taught by the revelation of Jesus Christ - Gal.1:11-12) says that tongues will not cease until that
      perfect man (Church, Bride, Building, Temple) has come. (1Cor.13:9-12, Eph.4:11-16)  Peter declared the gift of the
      Holy Ghost is given to "as many as the Lord our God shall call," (Acts.2:39) and God has not stopped calling yet.


8. Then the plurality of Eldership was replaced
      Monarchical bishops selected because of their natural ability.160 AD.(?) This is to be expected because there was
      no leading of the Holy Spirit and man became the leader. By this time 180 AD.(?) Churches were looking to 
      Rome for direction. Now there was a giant gap forming between doctrine and experience. The external form
      remained the same, but the spiritual awareness began to vanish.

      It was about this time (185 AD?) infant baptism took the place of Baptism by immersion. Later in 
      this century, Pope Stephen declared baptism in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ invalid.

      Note: During this next period of time (202-325 AD) Clement and Origen were :two prominent fathers...chief representatives of the
       School of Alexandria" 19  This School blended Plato with Biblical concepts, and denied the Deity of the Lord Jesus Christ. Origen is
       recorded in history as a early Christian Theologian. A Foremost, celebrated Christian writer, teacher and theologian of antiquity.
       Yet he was a Platoist. He taught that Christ was "subordinate to the father in power and dignity." He taught that Jesus was
       created, not eternal. (Funk & Wagnalls New Encyclopedia, Vol.19, p.441 / Encyclopedia Britannica, Vol.16. p.900-1939 Edition / Compton's Interactive Encyclopedia, 1996)

       Question: "Why then do Theologians today consider Origen a "celebrated Christian Writer," when he denies the Deity of Christ?  

       (Compare this period with the Church at Smyrna (Rev.2:8-17) and the parable of the Wheat and the Tares. (Matt.13:24-30, 36-43)

9. An acute distinction between the clergy and laity. 210 AD.(?)
      The "priesthood" of all believers was now replaced with designated priests in direct opposition to God's Word and
      they became the interpreters of the Word of God to the people. According to the pattern (blueprint) God has
      designated the entire Church is to be "a royal priesthood" (1Peter.2:9) with the responsibility to teach, guard,
      protection, supervised to copying of the Word. (1Peter.2:5-9, Rev.1:6; 5:10, 2Tim.2:15; 4:2, Deut.17:8; 24:8;
       31:9-13, 2Chron.15:3; 34:15, Neh.8:2) 

10.By the 3rd, century, worldliness had crept into the Church.
      Some recognized this problem and began the first monasteries, which created a double standard. There was
      "average" Christian and the ascetic who tried to lead the "deeper life," which lead to an over emphasis on works as
      a sort of eternal life. God's Words say our salvation is not by works. (Eph.2:8-9)