Samson - Page 1

2.  The Church like Samson was (Judges.13:4-5; 14:1-3) 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.  "...after my departing shall grevious 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 amour 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. "...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)


3.  The Church like Samson failed to have a hearing ear but "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)   




4.   By the middle of the second century the next truth to vanish was the "laying on
      of hands." (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)

    
5.   Next was the Baptism in the Holy Ghost and the Gifts of the Spirit. 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.


6.  Then the plurality of Eldership was replaced with monarchal 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 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 of the most 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 record in history as early Christian Theologian. 
      A foremost, celebrated Christian writer, teacher, and theologian of antiquity. He was a Platoist. He taught
      the 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.900-902 - 1939 Edition  /  Compton's Interactive 
            Encyclopedia, 1996

      (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)

7.  Now there developed 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) 

8.  By the middle of 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)