[Quester]

What the Protestants did in the 1600's was to go back to the original teachings of Jesus and the Apostles.

So the gates of hell prevailed against Christ's Church for 1600 years?

Obviously, the church has gone on in the accomplishment of God's purpose on the earth.

This doesn't mean that the church has not had periods of challenge, both external and internal.

This is something which cannot possibly be denied taking into account some of the internal challenges which the church faces today.

[Goreknowshowtocheat]

So the gates of hell prevailed against Christ's Church for 1600 years?

No, the church led by Christ "opened the great gulf fixed"(gates of hell) in the spririt world and preached the Gospel to the spririts in prison who were disobedient in the days of Noah when only 8 souls were saved by water. This is the exact fullfillment of that prophecy.

It had nothing to do with the survival of the authority in the earthly church which was promised by Paul to have a "falling away first"....