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I'm going to have to respond in bits and pieces so please bear with me.

Hmmmm...So the nature, purpose and character of God's Spirit changed?

I thought I was pretty clear on this point, but I'll try to go over it again. I'm suggesting that God interacts with his creation in different ways at different times. God does not change.

I would say that the Holy Spirit roll prior to the cross was just the same as after the cross. He was acting as a counselor to guide God's elect and there are a "number" of instances of this.

I disagree.

The passages you noted tell us the Holy Spirit was "upon" them. I don't believe you are going to find in the OT period the Holy Spirit permanently indwelling all believers.

Roms. 8:11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

Also, this role of the Holy Spirit only began after the crucifixion.

John 16:7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.

The passages you noted tell us the Holy Spirit was "upon" them. I don't believe you are going to find in the OT period the Holy Spirit permanently indwelling all believers.

I agree. There was a mystery, Paul told us, which was Christ "in you, the hope of glory". Also the Holy Spirit was the "earnest of our inheritance" which we were "sealed until the day of redemption". In the Psalms, David prays that God would "take not thy holy spirit from me" (Psalm 51:11). There definitely was a time when the Holy Spirit of God came upon men but it was not in the way that he is promised in the Church Age. The Holy Spirit INDWELLS now and it's for keeps.

God certainly communicated with Old Testament believers but it was an external presence. The burning bush, the pillar of fire or smoke and angel representatives mostly. We are not told in what form He communicated with Abraham when He made the covenant but He was certainly there. Then there were the dreams of the prophets but not the indwelling of all believers like there is after Christ’s resurrection.

In the New Testament we find that communication changed. First in the form of Jesus presence on earth and after His resurrection the promised presence of the Holy Spirit indwelling all true believers. No longer is there a cohesive group with a hierarchy of priests with only one central figure allowed into the presence of God and that only once a year. We now have all believers, designated priests, who have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and the ability to go before the throne of God in Jesus name.