DID GOD REALLY ESTABLISH 1200 CHURCHES?

Summer 2006

BY:

Jessie E. Mills Ph.D.

1729 Hwy. 79-N

Bonifay, FL 32425

Preface By James Hopkins

I used to think of the Old Testament as just stories of how God dealt with people in previous ages, but I have reached a point in my studies in which I am beginning to see a far greater lesson for us. The scriptures are recording specific events in the lives of people that prepare us for viewing God’s eternal truths.

I see the apostle Paul addressing this issue in 1 Corinthians 10:11 as he introduces the good news about Jesus Christ. He says, “For the creation of the world are now clearly seen being understood by the things that are made; even his eternal power and Godhead.” Are we really able to know God by just looking at his creation?

Later, in Ephesians 5:31, Paul speaks of one of the great mysteries of Christ and His church as being revealed in the words of Adam as he received the woman that had been made for him. Adam said, “ For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.”

What I see being declared in this document is the principle of the “physical creation” declaring the “spiritual creation”. When the scriptures are approached in this manner they begin to reveal to us that all along God was revealing His eternal things in the long ages before through those whom He had chosen for this specific purpose.

Even in the acts of destruction God used the physical creation to reveal the spiritual creation. A lesson here would be the ark that Noah constructed according to God’s plan. He constructed one ark, one God, one Christ, one window, Holy Spirit, one body of water, and one baptism. Noah lived in two different worlds, including, the old world that passed away, and the new world where all things were made new. Thus, he said, “ I will create new heavens and a new earth.”

Some teach that God had to change His purpose and delay His plans because of the unbelief of His chosen people, old covenant Israel. Just on the face of this teaching, I would hope that people could see that this is very unlike God by reviewing some of the events that are recorded biblically for us. I suggest that this document clearly shows that the unbelief of His chosen people, old covenant Israel, was clearly revealed to us beforehand. God really did not change His purpose and plan.

Please consider that the rejection of Christ Jesus was shown beforehand by the Old Testament law and prophets. It was planned to be this way before the foundation of the world. In the period of beginning, Isaiah 53 is most obvious in declaring his rejection. God was fully aware of the rejection of Christ by the Jews and had amply spoken of it.

This document also reminds the reader of these events. Also, following are a few of the Old Testament types and shadows that show this prophetic rejection:

1) Adam was placed into a deep sleep and from his side a rib was taken from which God made  woman for man. Christ died that He might purchase the church, His bride, with His blood.

2) The bruising of the heel of the woman’s seed and showing Satan’s temporary victory over Christ. The bruising of Christ’s heel is seen in His temporary defeat in the death on the cross. The resurrection of Christ is the bruising of Satan’s head and his eternal loss.

3) The death of Abel by his brother showing the Christ being delivered to death by his brethren.

4) The sacrifice of Isaac by Abraham declaring how the Father would deliver his own son as a sacrifice.

5) The rejection of Joseph by his brethren when he tells them again that Christ would be rejected by his brethren.

6) The Passover, the death of the first born, and speaking about the Father’s first-born Jesus.

7) Moses smiting the rock in the wilderness. It was a figure of the Christ who was to be smitten only once. Moses was rebuked for smiting the rock a second time. It was not according to the pattern that God was revealing.

8) Jonah in the belly of the fish heralded the resurrection.

The document that this preface precedes is well documented biblically and truthfully. It is not written to impress the reader in superiority of language. On the contrary, it is written to impress the reader to study for self, “seek and you shall find.” I have known the author for some 34 years, as well as all his works, and he has proven his creditability as a truthful student of the Bible and the author of several published books. He has also been a minister for more than fifty years.

I recommend Jessie's article here to the truth seeker.

James Hopkins

Minister, Scholar, Elder

Preface By The Author

In regards to this study my prayer is that I may present evidence, biblical, historically, and from the ancient fathers of the early church in the first century. I will also establish evidence from the following sources.

1. “Types” form the Old Testament, and form the new, which will give the meaning and     fulfillment of these types used.

2. “Shadows” from both the Old Testament as well as the New Testament, which to the reader, supposing that he has never done a complete study of these titles will give to him a much better understanding of the Bible in general. For these titles when they were completed shows without doubt that we now live in the period or age of total fulfillment of all things.

3. “Patterns”. Patterns will prove beyond any doubt that God did as the architect of the universe draw up plans from the period of beginning Genesis 1:1, throughout the period of eternity, and that these plans, or sometimes referred to as the scheme of redemption, did include a gradual improvement for each dispensation of time, even to the improvements of worship to Him. In patterns, we may notice the first pattern being administered in Heaven. (2 Peter 2:5, Jude 6). In patterns the law of nature that God also designed works always according to the written plan. Therefore, a pattern can be repeated in some events, and at different times without God having to meet in an emergency situation to decree action. For no event, or action of that event has ever, or will ever be an after thought on the part of God.

4. “Signs”. God so designed His plan that before writing He was able as God to look down into eternity and see every event that history records. If plan A did not work, then without re-writing His plan, plan B was placed into his works. So, before action took place signs would be given in advance of the action that would take place to correct the event. This is a fact confirmed by both the Old Testament and the New Testament, Exodus Ch. 8-11, Ch. 10, signs, Joel Ch. 1,2, locust, signs, Matt. 24:1-24, John 11:47, Mark 16:20.

5. “Parabolic”. A language that was used by God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit to conceal the real thing spoken of. Had the event been fully exposed it would have perhaps caused many people a great deal of problems. A classic example is found in John 13:0-19. The language used here if spoken clearly, would have named Judas as the thief and the one who betrayed Christ. This would have caused great problems with the other disciples. Doubt would have been one problem, and vengeance would have been another. Revelation 13 says that will serve to show another.

When the following scripture is given full attention, then, and only then can we begin to look into the mind of God and fully understand when God drew up His plans to control the universe and the actions for His creation. These scriptures below will show evidence that God did withhold clear and precise evidence until Christ was sent to reveal through Himself and His apostles the mystery.  First see, Matthew 25:34, I Corinthians 2:7, Ephesians 1:4, Colossians 1:26, Hebrews 4:3, Hebrews 9:26, 1 Peter 1:20.

Then the revealed mystery, the revealed mind of God, Matthew 13:11, Mark 4:11, Luke 8:10, 1 Corinthians 4:1, 1 Corinthians 13:2, Romans 11:25, Romans 16:25, Ephesians 1:9, Ephesians 3:3, 4, 9, Ephesians 5:32, Ephesians 6:19, Colossians 1:26, Colossians 4:3, 1 Timothy 3:9, Daniel 4:9.

When you have followed the command of 2 Timothy 2:15 and have given serious and spiritual thought to the true meaning of the above scriptures you will see God as you have never seen God before. The fulfillment of all things will be clear. In that which has gone before the reader will find the assembly of our Lord is one and indivisible; therefore, there cannot be an assembly of our Lord among the heretics. The Holy Spirit is one, and cannot dwell with those outside the Christian community. Therefore, the Holy Spirit has no place among heretics. So then, it follows that there can be no baptism among heretics that God, Christ, or the Holy Spirit has authorized. Baptism is based on this same unity and cannot be separated either from the assembly or from the Holy Spirit. It is utterly ridiculous to assert that spiritual birth, a second birth of ours in Christ through the baptism of regeneration, can take place among unbelieving heretics where it is admitted. The Spirit has no place. Water cannot purify or sanctify itself. It was accompanied by the Holy Spirit. These facts are taken from Ephesians 4:4-5 and Colossians 1:18.

Proverbs 8:22-31, “ The Lord possessed me at the beginning of His way and before His works of old. From everlasting I was established, and from the beginning from the earliest time of the earth (verse 27). When He established the heavens, I was there.”

Since the above established the fact that, the son Christ Jesus, was in Heaven, even from the first moment in the beginning, the Holy Spirit directed the apostle Paul to say in Colossians 1:18, “That He (Christ) was the head of the body, the church.” Then Ephesians 4:4-5 states, “ There is but one body and one spirit (Holy Spirit) and there is but one hope.” Then in Ephesians 4:5, “One Lord, one faith, one baptism.”

We cannot but conclude that one body, Christ, in heaven had the same authority over His body, as He does today. That is, if today His body is the church, then in heaven there was but one body and one church. Scripturally, we could use the word “assembly” or “temple”. So, lets use what God used, “and it shall come to pass, the temple of God shall be built in the name of the Lord.”  In 1 Corinthians 3:16 the apostle asked the church a question. “ Do you not know that your body is the temple of God, and that the spirit of god dwells in you?” See also 1 Cor. 6:19, and 2 Cor. 6:15-18. So, how then shall it be built in the name of the Lord?

By receiving the remission or our sins we can hope and believe that Christ can truly regenerate and put the sinner to death by the type of Christ. Probably you have not heard this expression: God kills the penitent sinner. He murders the old man of sin and creates a new creature a fresh. In His confession of faith, and his Commitment to believe, practice and teach all the instructions that God has prescribed. (2 Timothy 4:11-16. Believing, 2 Timothy 3:16.) Every word is inspired of God.

Following the instructions for the maintenance of the new creature. Spiritually such instruction includes all not just what we may like, but all them, God dwelleth truly in our habitation within our temple.

Now suddenly we have jumped into typology.

Isa. 41:21-29; we have a case in God’s court. The people saying you did not warn us. You gave us no sign preceding such and such event. God replies, “present your case!” Bring forth your evidence. Prove to me where I have failed! No, it is you who has failed. You have no knowledge because your ears are closed to learning. Furthermore, my people will go away into captivity because of the lack of knowledge! Isa. 5:13, now, we see a pattern that has already been established being used again. Follow me to Romans 12:2. Prove what the will of God is.

No! We neither take time, nor have the desire to prove what the will of God is. It takes too much of our time away form the computer, entertainment, or parties. So we just listen to the preacher without proving that he is truthful or opinionated!

Here is something to ponder on. If we took time to prove what the will of God was, or is. There would be no denominations today. There would be no need to use the word “the reformed church”. God gave the plan for one as well as instructions to follow that is proven by Ephesians 4:4-5, Acts 4:12, Colossians 1:18.

Having obtained evidence from the preceding “types”, patterns, there is but one conclusion that can be made. Christ was in heaven from the earliest moment of beginning Genesis 1:1. His body is the church “assembly”. So, the church of the Lord was also from the beginning in heaven. At the creation by pattern was established in the Garden of Eden called the Tree of Life or Zion. The church was never removed from heaven, and had it been then created angels would not have been told to worship God, and praise Him. Ps. 148:1-6, Matthew 18:10, Hebrews 1:6. To behold the face of God continually is to worship. Also, pray I, tell me if angels worshipped God then by what system did they worship, if not by the instructions given by God?

Adam and Eve they suffered spiritual death rejected those instructions. Should it be different today? Remember Paul said, “There is one God, one body, one faith, one baptism, and one hope. Isaiah chapter fifty-one and fifty-two informs us that the conditions, heavenly and spiritually would be restored.

Any thing that has never existed cannot be restored. God had reference to the body of Christ, the church in Heaven and in Eden. So, today you hear people say one church is as good as another, but each wears a different name. Each obeys a different set of instructions. Most given by the interpretation that violates God’s plan. Peter said in 2 Peter 1:20-21, 1 Corinthians 4:6, that no man has authority to make his own private interpretation. So, since there is only one God, one faith, one baptism, and one body there is only one plan.

Before leaving this article on the Lord’s church Barnabas said, “ Lest there should be any mistake there is a temple, but this temple of the Lord predicted by the prophets is a spiritual temple. It is either the Church of Christ, or the soul of the individual believer.” Page 135, The Apostolic Fathers, The Epistle of Barnabas, Pub. Baker Book House, 1956.

Comment: I see that God provides all things. I do not suppose that He stands in need of material offerings of men, but He teaches and I believe with conviction that God accepts only those who imitate those divine virtues of His character. The divine attributes of God are a command to follow. 1 Corinthians 11:1, Ephesians 5:1.

Does the Bible not teach that Christ was the end of sacrificial laws to obtain justification for every believer? Then, how could Christ be the end of the law unless He was also the beginning? For, He who brought the end brought the beginning also.

Was not the ark that Noah and his family assembled a type of one?  (1.) The church is one? (2.) The water is a saving power for those who would totally obey God? (3.) There was one window, one church. (4.) Animals of all kind both clean and unclean.

Perhaps, God answered that in Daniel 7:13, 14. His kingdom is one open to all peoples, all nations, men of every language, 1 Timothy 5:21, Romans 3:29-30. Today we have the reality and fulfillment of the type and pattern of the ark.

Moses Marries an Ethiopian woman. Numbers 12:1-ff. Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because he had married a Gentile Ethiopian woman. Why? In the first place it was uncommon for a Jew, or the children of Israel to marry into the people of other nations. This was not a practice by Isaac, or Jacob. They even married into families of their own kin. Such was the plan of God.

However, Abraham was the first to set a pattern. When Sarah, Abraham’s wife, planned a union between her husband and the Gentile maid of Sarah a child was born.

In this are both a pattern and a type. It is written in Galatians 3:8, “And the scripture foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying all the nations shall be blessed in you.” So, the pattern that would be used by Moses represented male and female. The female represents the church, and the male represents Christ. The end results would be seen when the Gentiles would be grafted into the wild olive tree, Romans 11:1-25. The pattern shows up again when king Solomon of Israel joined together and bore a Gentile and Jewish son. This is the only record that Israel maintained of King Solomon having a son by the Queen of Sheba. Sheba is the nation of Ethiopia.

Question: Where was the church when God preached the gospel to Abraham? Where was the church when Moses married the Ethiopian woman? Adam and Eve rejected the Lord’s church in the garden called the Tree of Life. The church went into a period of dormancy. However, God’s plan called for Plan B to replace Plan A would be restored to include the people of all nations. See Genesis 28:10-15, Isa. 2:1-3, Isaiah chapters 51 and 52; 52:8, “When the Lord restores Zion.”

Another union is seen in Revelation 19:7, and Revelation 21:2. Jacob’s ladder has now been restored from heaven to earth. The spiritual conditions of Heaven and Eden were restored. Revelation 22:1-2 confirms this fact. Even the leaves of the Tree of Life were for the healing of the nations. The River shows evidence of these events coming from Heaven, where the original source began.

At this point we should have arrived at the conclusion that the spirit prepares man for the Son of God.  The son leads man to the Father, and the Father gives man life and immortality, 2 Timothy 1:10. Thus, God was revealed. For in all these ways God the Father is displayed. The spirit works, and the Son fulfilled His ministry. The Father approves because He, the architect, had drawn the plans for each age, or dispensation day by day.

For example, the hardness of heart held sway until the coming of Christ. Let weakness of heart be gone, and let the reign of flesh come to an end with the coming of Christ. The new covenant abolished divorce. The new prophecy abolished second marriage. Acts 13:39, 1 Corinthians 7:1-17. See also Deut. 24:1-4.

Since this evidence is extant, much is found in various archives and is proof that God commands the writer or teacher to prove what His will is. (Romans 12:2). Therefore, with this in mind we must investigate every source before making a final decision. Recorded in the apostolic fathers by an unsigned author written about 120-140 A.D. The Apostolic Fathers, translated by J.B. Lightfoot, Baker Book House, 1956.

An Ancient Homily. 

“Wherefore, brethren, if we do the will of God our father, we shall of the first church be, which is spiritual, and was created before the sun and moon. If we do not the will of our Lord we shall be of the scripture that says my house was made a den of robbers. So, let us choose rather to be of the church of life so that we many be saved. And I do not suppose ye are ignorant that the living church is the body of Christ: For the scripture sayeth, God made man, male and female. The male is Christ, and the female is the church, which existeth, not now for the first time, but has been since the beginning. For she was spiritual as our Jesus also was spiritual, but he was manifested in the last days that he might save us. Now the church (assembly) being spiritual was manifested in the flesh of Christ.” Page 49, par. 1, The Apostolic Fathers, J. B. Lightfoot, Baker Book House, 1956.

The Apostolic Fathers,

The Epistles of S. Ignatius

“Ignatius, who is also Theophorus, unto her which hath been blessed in greatness through the plenitude of God the father; which hath been (past tense). Foreordained before the ages to before the ages to be forever unto abiding and unchangeable glory, united and elect in a true passion, by the will of the father and Jesus Christ our God; even unto the church (assembly) which is in Ephesus.”  Page 63, Par-1, The Apostolic Fathers J. B. Lightfoot, Baker Book House, 1956.

The Epistle of S. Ignatius, to the Magnesians

“If then those who had walked in ancient practices attained unto newness of hope, no longer observing Sabbath’s but fashioning their lives after the Lord’s day, on which our life also arose through Him and through His death which some men deny. It is a mystery whereby we attained belief and for this cause we endure patiently that we may be found disciples of Jesus Christ our only teacher, if this is true, how shall we be able to live apart from Him? Seeing that even the prophets being His disciples was expecting Him as their teacher through the spirit. For this cause He whom they rightly awaited when He came (when He came is past tense) raised them from the dead.”  Page 71, Verse 9, The Apostolic Fathers, “ For whose is called by another name besides this is not of God.” Page 71, Verse 10, The Apostolic Fathers, J. B. Lightfoot, Baker Book House, 1956.

The Epistle of S. Ignatius to the Trallians

“In like manner let all men respect he deacons as Jesus Christ even as they should respect the bishop (elder) as being a type of father. Apart from these there is not even the name of a church. Page 73, The Apostolic Fathers, J. B. Lightfoot, Baker Book House, 1956.

The Epistle of Ignatius, To the Philadelphians

“Ignatius, who was also called Theophorus, to the church (assembly) of God the Father and of Jesus Christ.” Page 79, par. 5, The Apostolic Fathers, J. B. Lightfoot, Baker Book House, 1956.

The Epistle of S. Ignatius To the Smyrnaens

“Ignatius, who is also called Theophorus, to the church of God the Father and of Jesus Christ the Beloved.” Page 82, Line 1-2, The Apostolic Fathers, J. B. Lightfoot, Baker Book House, 1956.

“I give glory to Jesus Christ the God.” “That He might set up an ensign unto all the ages through His resurrection, for His saints and faithful people whether among Jew or among Gentiles, in one body of His church.” (Assembly) Page 82, (Bottom of par. 2.) The Apostolic Fathers, J. B. Lightfoot, Baker Book House, 1956.

CREDIBILITY OF IGNATIUS. Given by the Epistle of S. Polycarp.  The Apostolic Fathers, Page 91. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, page 90 under the title “Alexander”, 1-3.  Notice Simon was the Father of Rufus and Alexander. “ The epistle of Polycarp was written in reply to a communication from the Philippians. They had invited him to address words of exhortation to them; they had requested him to forward by his own messenger the letter which they had addressed to the Syrian church (13), and they asked him to send them any epistles of Ignatius which he might have in his hand.” Rufus and Zosimus are mentioned by name as also traveling with Ignatius to Rome to be tried. (9), page 91, par. 2, The Apostolic Fathers, J. B. Lightfoot, Baker Book House, 1956. 

“THE LORD’S EKKLESIA”

In the minds of people, it has become a sacred thing to speak out in the denial of Christ’s church being established on the Pentecost of Acts chapter two as a completely new religious entity having for the first time its place in the world. Emphatically, I deny nothing. I am aware that some will find it necessary to castigate the evidence I will share with you showing that the Lord’s Ekklesia did not for the first time exist at Jerusalem.

Therefore, we must look first at Genesis 1:1, “ In the beginning.” In the beginning shows time.  The word “God” shows energy.  “Created” shows force. “The” indicates one. “Heavens” shows space. “And” conjunction “earth” shows matter. “And the earth was void and waste.” God did not relate to Moses the complete details of the first creation of Heaven and earth. We are not told how much time elapsed between the creation of Heaven and earth, and the second creation when the spirit of God was moving over the face of the waters.

However, we do know that in the beginning there was the creation of angels for we know from Jude 6. That the Holy Spirit led Jude to write, “And angels who did not keep their own domain, but abandoned their proper abode, he has kept in eternal bonds under darkness for the judgment of the great day.” This verse alone shows that after the creation of angels there were those who chose not to serve God! Therefore, they rebelled against God, and committed sin. But, then Peter is led to speak in regards to the same event. 2 Peter 2:4 says, “ For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to pits of darkness, reserved for judgment.”

Then God said, “ Let us make man in our image, and according to our likeness.” The statement “ let us” simply shows that God recognized His Son Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. God was not referring to angels as us. The Bible throughout bears witness that God was the designer, the architect of His complete plan. The Bible also bears witness that Christ was the executor of all God’s plans, John 1:1 and the Holy Spirit, the finisher.

Thus far we have established the presence of God the Father, Christ the son and the Holy Spirit in the beginning.  Then we have shown from Jude and Peter, that there were angels created, and was created as having free moral agency, otherwise they could not have sinned.

Now, it is necessary to show a time period between the creation in the beginning and that creation of matter. I seek your attention to what Peter and Jude wrote in regards to those angels who sinned.  Peter said they were cast out and down to hell.  We know this to be a fact because when Adam and Eve were created the chief of the evil angels were there ready to influence Eve.  There is not recorded a certain day for Satan to appear. He was there before Adam and Eve.

DID WE HAVE FIRST THE EKKLESIA  (church) IN HEAVEN?

Since we have God, Christ, the Holy Spirit, and the angels as the congregation. Do we not have scripture, which informs us that the angles did worship God, and bless and praise Him. Ps. 103:20, Ps. 148:1,2, and Hebrews 1:6,7.

At this point I call your attention to verse 6, have you ever considered the implications seen here? Notice, “And when He again brings the first born into the world.  “He again” the point being that most all people believes that Christ came to earth for the first time when being born by Mary and Joseph. Ponder this. John 4:24 make’s it clear that those who worship God must worship Him in spirit and in truth. God does seek to be praised and worshipped.

Are not the angel’s righteous spirits? Have they worshipped God in the past? Do they worship Him now? Under what set of rules do they worship God? Are their rules and instructions different from those rules of worship that God gave to mankind? Did God as the architect of eternity forget to establish a system of worship to Him in Heaven?

Keeping in mind as the chief architect, He allowed in His plans the terms of transition, which meant to every event. There were terms that allowed for upgrading the original in order to finally reach a point in His plan where a covenant would be perfected. In short, plan A, plan B and plan C. In that way nothing, or no event that occurred would be an after thought on His part.

SO IT WAS WITH THE EKKLESIA.

If there was a plan designed for heavenly creatures, and God designed that plan then it was a spiritual design of worship to the father. At the time God began the creation of all things beginning with light until the creation of mankind, then He rested on the seventh day.

1. Did Adam and Eve rest on the Sabbath day?

2. What did they do on the seventh day?

3. Did God forget to establish a system of worship to Him patterned after that which He created in Heaven?

4. Did God place the Tree of Life in the Garden of Paradise as a spiritual standard, conducive to meet the need of mankind?

5. Did God create all living things to reproduce after its own kind?

If so, then the Ekklesia were created after the pattern in Heaven, except for provisions which man on earth would be required to perform, although spiritual. But, then came sin. The newly created pair was influenced by Satan to disobey God; they did just that and at the same time forfeited their right to the Tree of Life. So. God stationed the cherubim, and the flaming sword to guard the way to the Tree of Life. Now, the pair has become physical, and the sentence of spiritual death passed up them. Satan was given domain and authority to hold all departed spirits in separation from God, until God would redeem them, and destroy the power of death, and he who had the power to hold all spirits, that is the devil, Hebrews 2:14.

However, God in the beginning having the ability to look down into eternity and see every event His creation would be involved He drew His plan to fit and remedy every event.

Therefore, Christ willingly offered Himself as a sinless being, a ransom for the righteous spirits being held by Satan.

So, the Tree of Life was lost temporarily; however, God had already made plans to restore the spiritual system after its original pattern. In the mean time, God and His executor would go to Plan B, as mentioned before.  Plan B would encompass a physical system referred to as the Patriarchal Age. This system of worship to God would require mankind to offer animal sacrifice to remind them of their sins, and of the sins committed by their first parents.

These sins were not forgiven, but were moved forward until the next year.  This mode, or form of sacrifice would serve as a type and pattern for the perfect and sinless Son of God. Thus, ending all such sacrifice.

God hears the cry of the sons of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. (Exodus 2:24)

God calls Moses, “Moses.” Moses replies, “ Here I am.”(Exodus 3:4) Now I will send you to Pharaoh, that you may bring my people out of Egypt (Ex. 3:10).

Another Ekklesia is established according to the covenant God had already made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. God had promised a spiritual covenant to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

However, the spiritual covenant is yet future. But, God puts Plan C called the covenant by God to Moses and the people into action. Yet, it was patterned and reproduced after the first. Yet, each time that God used plan B, or plan c, He ratified each plan by the improvements that were written into each plan in the beginning.

The Restoration of the first Ekklesia, and The Tree of Life:

So, even before the death of Jacob, God began to reveal His plan for restoring the spiritual Tree of Life. The Ekklesia of Col. 1:18.

He appears to Jacob while Jacob sleeps, and while Jacob sleeps he has a dream of a ladder set upon the earth and reaching up to Heaven. This ladder had been removed from this position when the Tree of Life was lost. So, now to a spiritual man to whom God had renewed his covenant made first to Abraham shows Jacob a revelation that depicted the restoration.

It is common knowledge that when you need to reach a desired height that cannot be reached with some means of extension, then a ladder will be set up. The fact that angels were ascending and descending on it indicated that once more the righteous spirits would gain access to God’s presence, Genesis 28:11-15.

God once again reminds Jacob of the land grant first promised to Abraham that signifies the restoration of the spiritual system of worship to God. The son Judah was not always a spiritual man. Neither was the tribe of Judah. Yet, the tribe of Judah was recognized as being the tribe in which the Messiah, or Shiloh, would come through. In Genesis 49:10, Judah had the scepter.

ISRAEL'S RESPONSIBILITY TO EVERY CREATURE UNDER HEAVEN:

Israel agreed to the covenant requirements of God. God promises to Israel a kingdom, a more susceptible system of worship to God, Exodus 19:6.

Israel replies, “And all the people answered together and said, all that the Lord has spoken we will do.”

Israel failed to prepare the world for the Messiah and the spiritual covenant of Jer. 31:31 and forward. The world saw in Israel a wicked nation, a sinful people. How then could each man teach his friends in neighboring nations the righteousness of God, when he himself were more wicked than those he required to teach. As a result, Israel lost their kingdom, Matthew 21:43.

However, Israel’s sin did not delay the Messiah, rather it hastened His coming, and His return, Matthew 24:22.

ISAIAH SPEAKS OF THE RESTORATION OF THE EKKLESIA:

Zion, the Tree of Life, Isa. 2:2-3,  “The Mountain of the house of the Lord will be established as chief of the mountains, and will be raised above the hills, and all nations will stream to it.”

Seems a bit out of place for modern day use! Today the passage is forced to read, and will be raised above the hills and all nations will flow into them. “Them” meaning more than twelve hundred denominations in America alone!

Isa. 2:3, says, “Come let us go to the house of the God of Jacob. The Law will go forth from Zion.” Ekklesia. “The law” meaning one law, one lawgiver. He who will be given to us will be the new administrator of Heaven and Earth, the mighty redeemer. (Isa. 9:6,7) The head of the only Ekklesia that God ever gave authority for. Therefore, brethren, if we do the will of God and prove what His will is, Romans 12:2, then we shall be of the first church that is spiritual.

I do not suppose that any reader is ignorant of this one fact: That the living church is the body of Christ and was created before the sun and moon. Christ was from the beginning, if so, and then His church was from the beginning. Incidentally, I find no evidence of any other mentioned in the scripture that God authorized. God’s plan indicates that male and female were created: the male represents Christ, the female the church.

Ignatius wrote about 110 A.D., “ For who so is called by another name besides this is not of God.” Ignatius was a Christian condemned to death because he followed Christ and the apostle’s teachings. Such thoughts, and teaching were by Christ and the apostles and were wide spread. The scriptures are a witness to this fact. Acts 4:11, 12.

ISAIAH 51:1-6

A call to those who pursue righteousness, a reminder of spiritual restoration, a reminder that sin caused the loss of the Ekklesia in the creation, but that God will restore it spiritually through Abraham and Sarah. Abraham signifies the Rock. Our Lord has some reference in Matthew 16:18. “ And I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church.”

That is upon the faithfulness, and spirituality of Abraham, he became the father of spirituality, and through his seed the new spiritual covenant would be ratified. 

In Matthew 16:18, reference is made of the rock. It is clear here that the word “rock” was used when Peter made the confession that Christ was the Son of God, the Rock. Christ was of the seed of Abraham, whose God, made the promises of spirituality to Abraham. Also, we have the mention of the Rock following the children of Israel in the wilderness.

REGARDING SARAH

Isa. 51:1 and forward. “Look unto Abraham your father, and unto Sarah that bare you.” Verse 2, but verse one has something to say about Sarah. “And to the hole of the pit whence you are dug.” From the day Isaac was born, all who seek the Lord in righteousness ends up as being children of Sarah, 1 Peter 3:6.

However, we must think of Sarah at one time being barren. Her well or her hole of the pit went dry. Yet, on the other hand, God brought back life to her pit, and it flowed with living waters and gave life to nations. This type is also seen in John 4:14. It says, “But whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst again.” We must also consider Rev. 22:1, “ And he showed me a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, coming from the throne of God and of the lamb.”

Greek and Hebrew sources that I have consulted on ancient language suggest the following. “The hole of the pit, a cistern, a well, a source of living water as the context suggest, in this case, there is no doubt that directly Abraham and Sarah is the subject. When we consider where their living water came from we must, I think, look to the spiritual stream that flows from the throne of God and the lamb.”

ISAIAH 52:1-9.

Isa. 52: Zion calling:  Spiritual Jerusalem is being made ready. See also Gal. 4:22-31. Isa 52: At the time of writing Jerusalem is physical in bondage and sin. Loose your self and turn your heart back to God, O daughters of Ekklesia (Zion).

Isa. 52:3, says that truth seekers will be redeemed by the blood of Christ.

Isa. 52:6, Verse six has a direct connection to Zech 14:9, who he is, and His name being the only name. It is said by some scholars to mean Jehovah. If so, it has the same event in mind. The same destruction of the physical, and the same restoration of the Ekklesia (Church).

Isa. 52:7, the announcement of good news, peace, happiness and salvation. Good news of the restoration of the Lord’s Ekklesia (Zion). See Also Heb. 12:22-23.

Isa. 52: 8: The watchmen will see with their own eyes when old Jerusalem becomes ashes under the feet of Rome (Luke 21:20).

Now, the apostle’s work has been finished for them. However, the Holy Spirit will testify as a witness that, “ the Lord restored the Ekklesia.”

Hebrews 12:22-23 says, “But you have come to Mount Zion, and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to Myriads of Angels, to the general assembly and Ekklesia of the first born (Christ) who are enrolled Heaven, and to God the judge of all, and to the spirits of righteous men made perfect.”

The Epistle of Barnabas

Barnabas, the companion of Paul, having also the Holy Spirit, made those remarks in regards to the Church of Christ (Ekklesia). He said, “Moreover, Lest there should be any mistake, he assures them that there is a temple, but this temple of the Lord, predicted by the prophets, is a spiritual temple; for it is either the Church of Christ (Ekklesia of Christ), or the soul of the individual believer.” Page 135, The Apostolic Fathers, J. B. Lightfoot, Baker Book House, 1956.

The Shepherd of Hermas.

“Now, Brethren, a revelation was made to me in my sleep by a youth of exceeding fair form, who said to me, whom thinkest thou the sibyl? Thou art wrong sayeth he and she is not. Who then is she? I say. The church is the “Ekklesia”. I said unto him, wherefore then is she aged? Because, sayeth he, she was created before all things; therefore she is aged.”  Page 169, par. 4, The Apostolic Fathers, J. B. Lightfoot, Baker Book House, 1956.

Doctrines of the Apostolic Church:

1.    Doctrines set forth by foretelling.

2.    Doctrines set forth by symbols, types, and shadows.

3.    Doctrines within the New Testament.

4.    Doctrines, which has been bound upon His children since the New Testament was completed by its authors.

“In the book of Acts we see how the Church of Christ was formed and settled.  The apostles simply proclaimed the truth of god relative to the passion, death, resurrection and ascension of Christ; and God accompanies their testimony with the demonstration of His Spirit. What was the consequence? Thousands acknowledge the truth, embrace Christianity.” “The religion of Christ stands in no need either of human cunning or power. It is the religion of God, and is to be propagated by His power: this the book of Acts fully shows; and in it we find the true model, after which every Christian church should be builded.” Adam Clark Commentary, Vol. 5, P. 680, Pub, G. Lane & C. B. Tippett, 1831 Ed.

A question perhaps will have some reflection upon what we believe at this very moment, and what we may believe six hours form now.

Question: Do you actually believe your salvation is predicated upon the command given in 2 Timothy 2:15? Question: Do you really believe that your salvation is predicated upon your belief that you must prove religious assumptions in order for God to be pleased, and to prove him as being the only truth in spiritual matters? Christ completed all the things that the father willed Him to do. Thus on the cross, John 19:30, He said to the Father, “It is finished.”

Yet, while this passage shows the total obedience of Christ. He knew all the work to finish and to fulfill all things before he could ratify the new covenant at His coming in the first century. Therefore, the Holy Spirit would be sent by the Father to complete and bring together into a full circle the truth regarding the gospel of Jesus Christ. Bringing God’s plan together in a circle that cannot be broken or changed, added to, or taken away from, without death as its consequences. John 16:13, See also, Matthew 12:32. So, yes God, Christ, sent the Holy Spirit to Paul, then to Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:15. God said it, and I believe it…And when it comes to proving what the will of God is, God said it, and I believe it!

A classic example follows:

Galatians 1:11-18: Paul the apostle makes it clear that he did not receive the gospel from flesh and blood. Verse 15 through Verse 16 says, “To reveal His son in me.”  Verse 17 says, “ Nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles.”

Galatians 2:1 and 2 says, “Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem.” Verse 2 says, “ And it was because of a Revelation that I went up.” Now we come to a point where it is necessary to ask questions: Who brought this Revelation to Paul? The Biblical answer is found in John 14:16, John 14:26, John 15:26, and John 16:13.

So the Holy Spirit received full authority to become the executor of God’s will. It behooves us to think of God’s will. It behooves us to think seriously in regards to the denial, or to show malice to the Holy Spirit. Indeed the Holy Spirit delivered the Revelation to Paul (Galatians 2:11-15). The Holy Spirit led Paul to oppose the apostle Peter in reference to Peter showing partiality to the upper class of Jews. Verse 6 says that Paul opposed Peter to his face because he stood condemned. So happens this kind of attitude was not acceptable in the early church. However, Peter soon forgets his correction on partiality. It is not all together proof that Galatians came before the book of Acts, or the other way around. What takes place, and the way in which Peter responds is of great importance.

Acts 10:1-48: The whole chapter turns upon the fact that at this time God welcomes the Gentiles into the kingdom. However, at verse nine Peter went upon the house top about noon to pray, and he became hungry and was desiring to eat, While food was being prepared he fell into a trance, and behold the sky opened up and a certain object like a great sheet coming down lowered by four corners to the ground. There were all kinds of four-footed animals, crawling creatures of the earth, and birds of the air in it.

And a voice came to him. “Arise Peter, kill, and eat!” Peter said, “By no means Lord, for I have never eaten anything unholy and unclean.” For the second time the voice spoke, and for a third time, and afterwards the objects was taken up. Then the spirit said three men are looking for you. I have sent them myself. Now notice what Peter says in verse 28. He says, “But God has shown me I should call no man unholy or unclean.” Note: The sheet did not represent what we can or cannot eat. It was to correct an act of partiality that condemns.

Something interesting begins to develop beginning in verse 44 through 48. As proof that God is not partial, the Holy Spirit fell upon those present for they were speaking in other languages as the spirit gave them utterance just as the Holy Spirit did on Pentecost. Peter and the other apostles on Pentecost may not have fully understood the responsibility of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost, but Peter understands now. 

In this chapter we have “patterns” followed from Acts chapter two. We also have “types”. Thus, when we review Acts 2:1-46, we find that John 16:13 began its fulfillments on that day. When He came He would guide the chosen apostles into all truth. He would open their mouths and give them utterances in every language present, Verse 4.

So, when we deny or attempt to change the course of anything spoken of in Acts chapter two especially, we deny, and have malice. Thus we blaspheme. The Holy Spirit (Matthew 12:32) says Jesus said there is no forgiveness ever. Simply put. No changes in doctrine, and no taking away.  No adding to, and no going beyond the written word.

Therefore, it is bound in Heaven and on earth as is written in Matthew 16:18 not only was this bound by Peter but the Holy Spirit also. In Act 2:38, when Peter and the spirit answered the question, “What shall we do?” Peter and the spirit said “repent and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins. This is the bottom line!

Such statement by the Holy Spirit cannot without blasphemy change the statement to say that baptism is not essential to ones salvation! The spirit said it was essential. The act of obeying the spirits instructions with a good conscious, and being baptized makes it essential. It is essential to obey.

Why would God write such an event into His plans for redemption without enforcing His will? Although God’s plan for eternity from the beginning was not given to us in full and intricate details until Christ came. It was given to those who were willing, and who had the will to search the scriptures for clues. However, people in general are somewhat like the man who had a fifty dollar gold coin that he carried in his pocket, whenever, and wherever he went.

One sad day while working in the yards he lost the coin! Hours, days, weeks, months, and even a year went by in sadness. Each day he began to realize the coin was worth many thousands of dollars, and that added to his despair. One day a year later he picked up the old family Bible to look for the birth date of a relative, and out falls the fifty dollar gold coin. This man was one of those who God spoke of in Isaiah 5:13. So goes the proverb.

In Conclusion:

Of the whole matter incidentally there are some things regarding the assembly of Christ that the average reader has not the means to investigate.

Such information as will be shown below, perhaps will help the reader to know that the assembly of Christ (church) was well-established hundreds of years before the Roman Catholics suppressed the Lord’s assembly in most nations where they could reach. The Vatican Library of Rome holds tons of written evidences respecting the apostolic church. However, to release such evidence would be harmful to the Roman Catholic Hierarchy. Nevertheless, even Constantine provided some lesser documents to early Christian, as well as the early Christian fathers. Thus, Constantine proclaimed the peace of the church. He might almost be described as signing a treaty between two powers. Page 699, Catholic Encyclopedia, Vol. 3, Pub. Robert Appleton Company, New York, 1908 Ed.

More bits and pieces: The essentials of Christianity. In early Christianity there was much that was transitory and exceptional. It was not presented full-grown to the world, but left to develop in accordance with the forces and tendencies that were transplanted in it by its founder. Page 716, Catholic Encyclopedia, Vol. 3, Pub. Robert Appleton Company, New York, 1908 Ed.

The church was in process of organization, and the various Christian communities united doubtless in a strong bond of charity, and in the sense that they had one Lord, one faith, and one baptism, were to a large extent independent of one another in the matter of government. Page 716, Catholic Encyclopedia, Vol. 3, Pub. Robert Appleton Company, New York, 1908 Ed.

The end of the law is Christ says St. Paul (Romans 10:4). Meaning that the law was given to the Jews to excite them and their faith in the Christ to come. Wherefore, he says again Galatians 3:24 the law was our pedagogue unto Christ, leading the Jews to Christianity. Augustine sums the whole matter up in the striking words: In the Old Testament, and the New Testament lies hidden. In the new, the old is made manifest. Page 713, Catholic Encyclopedia, Vol. 3, Pub. Robert Appleton Company, New York, 1908 Ed.

As early as 313 A.D. the church obtained immunity for its Ecclesiastics, including freedom from taxation and compulsory service, and form obligatory state offices; for example, as the curial dignity, which was a heavy burden. The church obtained the right to inherit property, and Constantine moreover placed the first day of the week, Sunday, under the protection of the state. Page 299, Catholic Encyclopedia, Vol. 4, Pub. Robert Appleton Company, New York, 1908 Ed.

Christians, and the church could never acknowledge that she stood on the same plane with other religious bodies, Page 301, Catholic Encyclopedia, Vol. 4. Pub. Robert Appleton Company, New York, 1908 Ed.

It appears to me that writers, and teachers in the early Church of Christ had an exceptional knowledge of types, shadows, patterns, and signs. Christianity is developed from Judaism in the sense that it embodies the divine revelation contained in the latter, somewhat as a finished painting, and embodies the original sketch. The same hand was employed in the production of both religions, and by type and promise and prophecy the old dispensation points clearly to the new. But type and promise and prophecy as clearly indicated vary differently from the old. Page 713, Catholic Encyclopedia, Vol. 3, Pub. Robert Appleton Company, New York, 1908 Ed.

Constantine, when at last being influenced by Christian and their new life style along with his military officers, had taken Christ as their master, and felt His approaching death. He received baptism after the example of Christ. He desired to receive the saving seal in Jordan, but God had ordained peacefully and joyfully awaited the end. Page 301, Catholic Encyclopedia, Vol. 4, Pub. Robert Appleton Company, New York, 1908 Ed.

“In the writing of the New Testament, the words are sharply distinguished. With them, “Ecclesia” denotes the Church of Christ.  The word “Ecclesia” is never used by the apostles to denote the Jewish church.” Page 744, Catholic Encyclopedia, Vol. 3, Pub. Robert Appleton Company, New York, 1908 Ed.

Authors note: from this evidence, we can know that Constantine was baptized into the body, the Church of Christ. We also know the church assembly was not started by Thomas and Alexander Campbell in 1810 A.D. We also find that the Roman Catholic Hierarchy had not yet arisen! -- JEM

In fact, Edward T. Hiscox D. D. wrote the standard manual for Baptist churches in 1890. He wrote, “It is most likely that in the apostolic age when there was but one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and no differing denominations existed. The baptism of a convert by that very act constituted him a member of the church, and at once endowed him with all right and privileges of full membership. In that sense, baptism was the door into the church. Now it is different. Standard Manual for Baptist Churches, Edward T Hiscox D. D. pub. The American Baptist Publication, Philadelphia, PA, 1890.