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Apostasy and Restoration: The Ancient Pattern From Adam to the Last Days

December 7th, 2025

From the beginning, God established His government on earth through Adam and Eve, giving them the laws, ordinances, and order of the Highest Melchizedek Priesthood—the Ancient Order that existed before this world was formed (Jubilees 3:28–31). Adam entered mortality already instructed in divine law (Life of Adam and Eve 49:3; Jubilees 4:5) and was commanded to teach these laws to his children (Jubilees 7:20; Josephus, Antiquities 1.2.3). Thus the first family was initiated into the full pattern of patriarchal worship as it existed in heaven (Testament of Adam 1:3; Philo, Questions on Genesis I.92; Genesis 4:4).

This order is demonstrated in the offerings of Abel and Cain. Abel offered an acceptable sacrifice, revealing that he had been taught the true ordinances and offered them “in faith” (Genesis 4:4; Hebrews 11:4) (Jubilees 4:3–5). Cain also offered, but his sacrifice was rejected because it was not given in faith nor in accordance with the revealed order (Josephus, Antiquities 1.2.1) (Philo, On the Sacrifices of Abel and Cain 10–14). Cain’s rebellion marked the first apostasy. He retained fragments of Adam’s religion but corrupted its ordinances and doctrines (Pseudo-Philo 2:1–4). Many of Adam and Eve’s children soon followed him, marrying into the corrupted families of Cain and teaching a religion that resembled the original but lacked its power (Life of Adam and Eve 22–23; Jubilees 4:15).

God raised up a righteous seed through Seth, who, like Abel, offered an acceptable sacrifice and “called upon the name of the LORD” (Genesis 4:26) (Jubilees 4:13–14). After the birth of Seth’s son Enos, a restoration occurred, and men again began to call upon the name of the Lord (Jubilees 4:16). The righteous descendants of Adam, which were small in number compared to the unrighteous, withdrew from the corruption spreading through the lowlands and retreated to the mountains, preserving the Ancient Order in purity (Josephus, Antiquities 1.2.2). Scripture distinguishes these households as the “sons of God,” while the descendants of Cain—builders of cities, traders, kings, and warriors—became known as the “sons of men” (Genesis 6:1–2) (1 Enoch 7:1–3). From this point forward, the world divided into two civilizations: the mountain-dwelling covenant people who preserved the patriarchal priesthood, and the lowland cultures of Cain that spread commerce, kingship, power, and idolatry (Jubilees 4:15).

Yet even among the mountain-dwelling patriarchs, corruption eventually crept in. Many of the sons of God began to imitate the sons of men, descending into the lowlands, adopting their culture, participating in their city-building, trading, and warfare (Genesis 6:2) (1 Enoch 7:1–3). The lure of wealth, political dominion, and worldly greatness drew many away from the simplicity and holiness of the Ancient Order (Jubilees 4:15). This pattern repeated itself after every restoration: after Adam and Seth, some of their descendants were drawn into the cities of the plains (Josephus, Antiquities 1.2.2); after Enoch’s city was taken up, the remaining righteous gradually absorbed the customs of the corrupted nations (Jubilees 4:29); after Noah, many of the descendants of Shem—originally highland shepherds—moved into Mesopotamian kingdoms and imitated the dominion-building cultures of Nimrod (Jubilees 10:28–34); after Abraham, much of his posterity drifted into the surrounding nations (Jubilees 12:5–9); after Moses, Israel repeatedly absorbed the practices of neighboring peoples (Psalm 106:34–36); and after Jesus Christ, many communities once established on apostolic foundations adopted the philosophical and political structures of Rome (1 Clement 37–38). Every restoration was followed by decline as the covenant people imitated the world, lost the Ancient Order, and eventually needed to be called back again.

A remarkable feature of the earliest ages is that each restoration occurred while many earlier patriarchs were still alive. The righteous fathers of former generations personally witnessed and supported the new restoration, forming an unbroken chain of living testimony and preserving a continuous memory of the original order (Josephus, Antiquities 1.2.3). When Enos was born and the restoration began, Adam was still alive, together with Seth, Enos, and many others (Genesis 5). When God called Enoch to preach repentance, Adam, Seth, Enos, Cainan, Mahalaleel, and Jared were all still living (Jubilees 4:14–22). When Noah arose as a preacher of righteousness, his father Lamech and grandfather Methuselah lived almost until the Flood itself (Genesis 5:25–32). And when Abraham was called to restore the Ancient Order among the apostate line of Shem, Noah, Shem, Arphaxad, Salah, Eber, Peleg, Reu, Serug, Nahor, and Terah were all still alive (Book of Jasher 7:19–40; 8:1–4). Abraham restored not an isolated fragment of truth but the living tradition of the Fathers who yet dwelt upon the earth (Jubilees 12:16–28).

As violence and corruption filled the earth, God raised up Enoch, trained in the Ancient Order by the elders still residing in the mountains (Book of Jasher 4:20–21) (Jubilees 4:17–18). Enoch restored righteousness, taught repentance, and established a holy community that “walked with God” (Genesis 5:24) (Hebrews 11:5) (Josephus, Antiquities 1.3.3). Through him, the Ancient Order flourished again in its fulness (1 Enoch 91:1; 93:1). Following the translation of Enoch’s city, corruption soon returned (Jubilees 4:23–25). God then called Noah, another restorer, who preached righteousness for generations and renewed the covenants of Adam (2 Peter 2:5) (Josephus, Antiquities 1.3.1). Through Noah and his household, the Ancient Order survived the Flood and was reestablished in the new world (Jubilees 6:12–14).

In the centuries following the Flood, even the majority of Shem’s descendants—who had once preserved the highland covenants—gradually abandoned the mountains and integrated into the empires of Mesopotamia (Jubilees 10:28–34) (Josephus, Antiquities 1.4.1). They imitated the kingdoms and idolatries of Nimrod, and the Ancient Order became obscured among the nations (Genesis 10:8–12) (Jubilees 10:29–33). God raised up Abraham, who sought the “blessings of the fathers” and the “right belonging to the firstborn,” desiring to restore what had been lost (Jubilees 12:16–28) (Philo, On Abraham 3–5). Taught by Noah and Shem, Abraham became a restorer to the apostate descendants of Shem, calling them back to the Ancient Order (Book of Jasher 7:39–47; 8:1–4) (Jubilees 11:12–15).

Many generations later, God called Moses to restore Israel to the patriarchal order. Israel was to become “a kingdom of priests and a holy nation” (Exodus 19:6) (Deuteronomy 26:17–19). Moses received the higher law on the mountain, but when he returned to find the people imitating the worship of Egypt, he shattered the tablets (Exodus 32:1–8, 19) (Josephus, Antiquities 8.3.2) (Philo, Life of Moses II.161–171). This act symbolized the withdrawal of the higher order (Jubilees 14:24–26). Israel was not prepared to receive it, and only the lesser Levitical priesthood remained (Numbers 3:5–10) (Sirach 45:15).

In the meridian of time, Jesus Christ restored the whole structure of the Ancient Order. Through both the Lower and Higher Melchizedek Priesthood, Christ rebuilt God’s family on earth and prepared His disciples to become “kings and priests unto God” (Revelation 1:6) (Hebrews 5:5–7; 7:14–17). Yet after the apostles passed away, many believers again adopted the patterns of surrounding nations and empires, repeating the ancient cycle of decline (1 Clement 37–38) (Didache 16:3–4) (Ignatius, Epistle to the Magnesians 8–10).

Scripture promises one final restoration before the return of the Messiah. Revelation 12 describes the covenant woman—the Church of Christ—bringing forth a “man-child” representing the restored Ancient Order in the last days (Revelation 12:1–6) (2 Esdras 2:42–48). She flees into the wilderness under God’s protection, while a heavenly war reveals the end of Satan’s dominion (Revelation 12:7–12). Daniel 7 provides the corresponding heavenly perspective. Daniel beholds a great assembly in which “the Ancient of Days”—God the Father, who is Adam—takes His seat (Daniel 7:9–10) (1 Enoch 46:1–3). Into His presence come the saints, and dominion is given to them (Daniel 7:18, 22, 27). The Ancient of Days confers authority upon the Messiah and restores the patriarchal kingdom to the covenant family (Psalm 82:1, 6).

Together, Daniel 7 and Revelation 12 reveal that the final restoration will mirror every prior one: apostasy and imitation of the surrounding nations (1 Clement 37–38) (Jubilees 4:15), withdrawal of the faithful into a wilderness (Revelation 12:6), a heavenly intervention (Revelation 12:7–12) (Daniel 7:9–10), a divinely chosen restorer (Jubilees 4:22), the reestablishment of the Ancient Order (1 Enoch 46:1–3), and at last the saints receiving the kingdom (Daniel 7:18, 22, 27).

Across the ages, the same cycle repeats. Adam established the Ancient Order (Jubilees 3:28–31); Seth and Enos restored it (Genesis 4:26) (Jubilees 4:16); Enoch renewed it (Jubilees 4:17–18); Noah reestablished it (2 Peter 2:5) (Jubilees 6:12–14); Abraham restored it among the apostate line of Shem (Jubilees 12:16–28) (Book of Jasher 7:39–47; 8:1–4); Moses attempted to restore it but Israel imitated the nations (Exodus 32:1–8, 19) (Josephus, Antiquities 8.3.2); Jesus Christ restored it in fulness (Hebrews 5:5–7; 7:14–17) (Revelation 1:6); and Revelation 12 together with Daniel 7 foretell its restoration again in the last days (Revelation 12:1–6) (Daniel 7:18, 22, 27). From Eden to the Second Coming, the story is one continuous narrative: the Ancient Order rises, is imitated and corrupted, declines, and is restored again—until the final restoration prepares the earth for the return of the King.

References

  1. Jubilees 3:28–31 – “And He instructed Adam in all the ways of righteousness… the law and the commandment… to keep the Sabbath… and all the ordinances of purity.” ↩
  2. Life of Adam and Eve 49:3 – “The Lord taught me [Adam] all things in the Garden.” ↩
  3. Jubilees 4:5 – “And he [Adam] was taught the writing and the knowledge and wisdom, and he wrote down everything that he was taught about the creation of the world.” ↩
  4. Jubilees 7:20 – “And Noah began to teach the commandments of the Lord to his sons… as it was commanded to their father Adam.” ↩
  5. Josephus, Antiquities 1.2.3 – “Adam had been taught the ways of God… and instructed his descendants in the practice of righteousness.” ↩
  6. Testament of Adam 1:3 – “I am Adam… the first formed, the one who is priest of the whole world.” ↩
  7. Philo, Questions on Genesis I.92 – “Adam, while still in Paradise, was consecrated to God.” ↩
  8. Genesis 4:4 – Abel “brought of the firstlings of his flock… and the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering.” ↩
  9. Genesis 4:4; Hebrews 11:4 – Abel “brought of the firstlings of his flock… and the Lord had respect unto Abel,” and he “offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain.” ↩
  10. Jubilees 4:3–5 – “God accepted the sacrifice of Abel, but did not accept the offering of Cain… and Cain slew him because of this.” ↩
  11. Josephus, Antiquities 1.2.1 – “God was more delighted with the latter [Abel]… whereas He was not pleased with the former [Cain], who offered Him the fruits of the earth.” ↩
  12. Philo, On the Sacrifices of Abel and Cain 10–14 – “Cain offered indeed, but not with a pure mind… for he imitated religion only in appearance, but Abel offered with sincerity and love of God.” ↩
  13. Pseudo-Philo, Biblical Antiquities 2:1–4 – “Cain did not offer rightly… and after he sinned he taught his sons to walk in the same manner.” ↩
  14. Life of Adam and Eve 22–23 – “The sons of Cain… did not cease from unrighteousness, mixing with the children of God and leading them astray with the daughters of their people.” ↩
  15. Jubilees 4:15 – “And from this time the children of men began to multiply and to transgress and rebel against God, and to corrupt their ways.” ↩
  16. Genesis 4:26 – “Then began men to call upon the name of the LORD.” ↩
  17. Jubilees 4:13–14 – “And to Seth also a son was born… and his name was Enos. He began to call on the name of the Lord on the earth.” ↩
  18. Jubilees 4:16 – “And in his [Enos’] days the children of men forgot the Lord, and they began to sin… but the righteous began to call upon the name of the Lord.” ↩
  19. Josephus, Antiquities 1.2.2 – “Many of Adam’s descendants were led astray after Cain’s example… but Seth’s descendants were virtuous and lived in the highlands.” ↩
  20. Genesis 6:1–2 – “The sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.” ↩
  21. 1 Enoch 7:1–3 – “And when the sons of men multiplied… the children of heaven saw and took wives… and they taught them charms and enchantments, and the people became corrupted.” ↩
  22. Jubilees 4:15 – “And from this time the children of men began to transgress and rebel against God, and to corrupt their ways.” ↩
  23. Genesis 6:2 – “The sons of God saw the daughters of men… and took them wives of all which they chose.” ↩
  24. 1 Enoch 7:1–3 – “When the sons of men multiplied, the children of heaven saw and took wives… and they taught them charms and enchantments, and they became corrupted.” ↩
  25. Jubilees 4:15 – “From this time the children of men began to transgress and rebel against God, and to corrupt their ways.” ↩
  26. Josephus, Antiquities 1.2.2 – “Many of Adam’s descendants were led astray after Cain’s example… but the posterity of Seth continued in virtue for seven generations.” ↩
  27. Jubilees 4:29 – “And in the days after Enoch was taken, the hearts of the children of men were turned away from the Lord and they increased in wickedness.” ↩
  28. Jubilees 10:28–34 – Describes how the nations were divided under Nimrod and how he “began to reign over the sons of Noah” with dominion and warfare. ↩
  29. Jubilees 12:5–9 – Abraham “found the world to be lost in folly… and the sons of men walked in their own ways and defiled themselves with the nations.” ↩
  30. Psalm 106:34–36 – “They mingled among the nations and learned their works… and were ensnared by them.” ↩
  31. 1 Clement 37–38 – Early Christians warned not to imitate “the heathen nations” or adopt their political rivalries, which were creeping into the churches. ↩
  32. Josephus, Antiquities 1.2.3 – “Adam had been taught the ways of God and instructed his descendants in the practice of righteousness… the posterity of Seth continued in virtue for seven generations.” ↩
  33. Genesis 5 – Genealogical ages showing that Adam lived 930 years, overlapping with Seth, Enos, Cainan, Mahalaleel, and Jared by centuries. ↩
  34. Jubilees 4:14–22 – Records the births and ages of Seth, Enos, Cainan, Mahalaleel, Jared, and Enoch, confirming their overlapping lifespans during Enoch’s ministry. ↩
  35. Genesis 5:25–32 – Methuselah lived 969 years and Lamech 777 years, both overlapping Noah’s life and dying near the time of the Flood. ↩
  36. Book of Jasher 7:19–40; 8:1–4 – Describes Noah, Shem, Arphaxad, Salah, Eber, Peleg, Reu, Serug, Nahor, and Terah living into Abraham’s early life, and Abraham being taught by Noah and Shem. ↩
  37. Jubilees 12:16–28 – Abraham “sought the ways of the fathers” and was instructed in the ancient traditions preserved by Noah and Shem. ↩
  38. Book of Jasher 4:20–21 – Describes Enoch being taught by the elders of the people and becoming a great teacher, called “the Lord’s chosen” who instructed the people in righteousness. ↩
  39. Jubilees 4:17–18 – “He [Enoch] learned the instruction of the Lord… and he began to testify against the sons of men… and he walked with the angels of God.” ↩
  40. Genesis 5:24 – “And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.” ↩
  41. Hebrews 11:5 – “By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death… for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.” ↩
  42. Josephus, Antiquities 1.3.3 – “Enoch was an exceedingly righteous man, and… he was taken up to God, and disappeared from among men.” ↩
  43. 1 Enoch 91:1; 93:1 – Enoch sets forth “the paths of righteousness and truth” and teaches the generations with heavenly wisdom. ↩
  44. Jubilees 4:23–25 – After Enoch’s translation, “the hearts of the children of men were turned again to unrighteousness… and they corrupted their ways like the watchers.” ↩
  45. 2 Peter 2:5 – Noah is called “a preacher of righteousness,” warning the world before the Flood. ↩
  46. Josephus, Antiquities 1.3.1 – “Noah, displeased at their conduct, tried to persuade them to change their dispositions and their acts for the better.” ↩
  47. Jubilees 6:12–14 – Noah renewed the covenant, offered sacrifice, and established ordinances for his sons after the Flood. ↩
  48. Jubilees 10:28–34 – Describes how the sons of Noah, including the line of Shem, were drawn into the dominion and cities that arose in the land of Shinar under Nimrod’s rule. ↩
  49. Josephus, Antiquities 1.4.1 – “The posterity of the sons of Noah were soon corrupted… and fell into the practices of the nations round about them.” ↩
  50. Genesis 10:8–12 – Nimrod “began to be a mighty one in the earth… and the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, Erech, Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar.” ↩
  51. Jubilees 10:29–33 – Nimrod is described as ruling in wickedness, establishing dominion, and leading nations into idolatry. ↩
  52. Jubilees 12:16–28 – Abraham “sought the ways of the fathers” and “the eternal right belonging to the firstborn,” rejecting the idolatry of his generation. ↩
  53. Philo, On Abraham 3–5 – Abraham is portrayed as a seeker of the ancient wisdom and virtues of the patriarchs, rejecting the errors of Chaldean religion. ↩
  54. Book of Jasher 7:39–47; 8:1–4 – Records Abraham being taught in the ways of righteousness by Noah and Shem, who preserved the ancient traditions. ↩
  55. Jubilees 11:12–15 – Describes Abraham’s rejection of his father’s idolatry and his turn to “the God of heaven,” influenced by the teachings of the elders. ↩
  56. Exodus 19:6 – “And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation.” ↩
  57. Deuteronomy 26:17–19 – God promised Israel that if obedient, He would “set thee high… to make thee a holy people unto Himself.” ↩
  58. Exodus 32:1–8, 19 – Israel calls for the making of a golden calf “like the gods which brought thee up out of Egypt,” and Moses breaks the tablets upon seeing it. ↩
  59. Josephus, Antiquities 8.3.2 – The golden calf is identified as an imitation of Egyptian worship: “They made a calf in imitation of the Egyptian god Apis.” ↩
  60. Philo, Life of Moses II.161–171 – Philo explains that the golden calf was Egyptian idolatry and that Moses shattered the tablets as a symbol of Israel’s unworthiness. ↩
  61. Jubilees 14:24–26 – Jubilees describes God withholding higher ordinances when Israel turned to idolatry, preserving only a lesser form of worship. ↩
  62. Numbers 3:5–10 – The Levites are taken “instead of all the firstborn” and given charge of the sanctuary in place of the higher order originally intended for Israel. ↩
  63. Sirach (Ben Sira) 45:15 – The Levitical priesthood is described as a distinct and limited office, given because of Israel’s sin. ↩
  64. Revelation 1:6 – Christ “hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father.” ↩
  65. Hebrews 5:5–7; 7:14–17 – Christ is declared a priest “after the order of Melchizedek,” holding an eternal priesthood superior to the Levitical law. ↩
  66. 1 Clement 37–38 – Clement warns the early believers not to imitate “the heathen nations” in their rivalries and political divisions but to remain in the order delivered by the apostles. ↩
  67. Didache 16:3–4 – An early warning that false teachers and worldliness would enter the Church, causing many to fall away and imitate the nations. ↩
  68. Ignatius, Epistle to the Magnesians 8–10 – Ignatius laments that some Christian communities were adopting Roman and Greek customs and urges them to preserve the order received from Christ and the apostles. ↩
  69. Revelation 12:1–6 – The woman “clothed with the sun” brings forth a man-child “who was to rule all nations,” and she flees into the wilderness where God has prepared a place for her. ↩
  70. 2 Esdras (4 Ezra) 2:42–48 – Ezra sees a woman who represents the people of God, and the Son exalting the righteous in the last days. ↩
  71. Revelation 12:7–12 – “There was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon… and the great dragon was cast out.” ↩
  72. Daniel 7:9–10 – “The Ancient of Days did sit… thousand thousands ministered unto Him… the judgment was set, and the books were opened.” ↩
  73. 1 Enoch 46:1–3 – Enoch sees the Ancient of Days and the Son of Man receiving authority and dominion in a heavenly assembly. ↩
  74. Daniel 7:18, 22, 27 – “The saints of the Most High shall take the kingdom… and possess the kingdom for ever… and the kingdom… shall be given to the people of the saints.” ↩
  75. Psalm 82:1, 6 – “God standeth in the congregation of the mighty… I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High.” ↩
  76. 1 Clement 37–38 – Clement warns that believers fall into apostasy when they imitate the “customs of the heathen,” urging them to remain in the order delivered by the apostles. ↩
  77. Jubilees 4:15 – “From this time the children of men began to transgress and rebel against God, and to corrupt their ways.” ↩
  78. Revelation 12:6 – “The woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God.” ↩
  79. Revelation 12:7–12 – “There was war in heaven… the great dragon was cast out.” ↩
  80. Daniel 7:9–10 – “The Ancient of Days did sit… and the judgment was set, and the books were opened.” ↩
  81. Jubilees 4:22 – Describes God raising up righteous judges and prophets in each generation to call mankind back to His order. ↩
  82. 1 Enoch 46:1–3 – Enoch sees the Son of Man receiving power and a kingdom from the Ancient of Days in a heavenly council. ↩
  83. Daniel 7:18, 22, 27 – “The saints of the Most High shall take the kingdom… and possess the kingdom forever.” ↩
  84. Jubilees 3:28–31 – Adam is taught the ordinances and commandments and instructed to teach them to his children. ↩
  85. Genesis 4:26 – “Then began men to call upon the name of the LORD.” ↩
  86. Jubilees 4:16 – Enos’ generation renewed the calling upon the name of the Lord. ↩
  87. Jubilees 4:17–18 – Enoch “learned the instruction of the Lord” and restored righteousness. ↩
  88. 2 Peter 2:5 – Noah is called “a preacher of righteousness.” ↩
  89. Jubilees 6:12–14 – Noah renews the covenant and establishes ordinances after the Flood. ↩
  90. Jubilees 12:16–28 – Abraham “sought the eternal right belonging to the firstborn” and restored the ways of the Fathers. ↩
  91. Book of Jasher 7:39–47; 8:1–4 – Abraham is taught righteousness by Noah and Shem and restores the ancient worship. ↩
  92. Exodus 32:1–8, 19 – Israel imitates Egyptian worship, and Moses breaks the tablets. ↩
  93. Josephus, Antiquities 8.3.2 – The golden calf is identified as an imitation of the Egyptian god Apis. ↩
  94. Hebrews 5:5–7; 7:14–17 – Christ is declared a priest “after the order of Melchizedek.” ↩
  95. Revelation 1:6 – Christ “hath made us kings and priests unto God.” ↩
  96. Revelation 12:1–6 – The covenant woman brings forth the man-child, who is to rule all nations. ↩
  97. Daniel 7:18, 22, 27 – “The saints of the Most High shall take the kingdom… and possess the kingdom for ever.” ↩