The Great Apostasy

This explains why it has been necessary to restore the Gospel in these latter days.

My last post explained that there have been various dispensations of the gospel, starting with Adam and going through Abraham,Noah, Moses, Elijah to the Lord Jesus Christ himself.  In between each dispensation there was a falling away - an apostasy - so it was necessary to restore the priesthood authority.

The universal apostasy began in the days of Christ's apostles themselves, as explained in 2 Peter 2:1-2:

" But there were ^afalse prophets also among the people, even as there shall be ^bfalse ^cteachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that ^dbought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

 2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of ^atruth shall be evil spoken of.

And it was known to and foretold by them.  The Apostle Paul stated that the Second Coming would not be until after this great falling away had taken place. 2 Thess. 2:1-12 -

1 Now we beseech you, brethren, ^aby the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,

 2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, ^aor be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by ^bletter as from us, as that the ^cday of Christ is at hand.

 3 Let no man deceive you by any means: ^afor that day shall not come, except there come a ^bfalling away first, and that ^cman of ^dsin be revealed, the son of perdition;

 4 Who ^aopposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

 5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?

 6 And now ye know ^awhat withholdeth that he might be ^brevealedin his time.

 7 ^aFor the ^bmystery of ^ciniquity doth already work: only ^dhe who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.

 8 And then shall that ^aWicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his ^bcoming:

 9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all^apower and ^bsigns and lying wonders,

 10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

 11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:

 12 That they all might be ^adamned who ^bbelieved not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

The apostle Peter prophesied very clearly concerning the heresies that would be taught as doctrine in the period of the apostasy.  He also reminded people that there had been false teachers in olden times, just as there would be in times to come, in 2 Peter 2:1-3 - 

"1 But there were ^afalse prophets also among the people, even as there shall be ^bfalse ^cteachers among you, who privily shall bring indamnable heresies, even denying the Lord that ^dbought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

 2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of ^atruth shall be evil spoken of.

 3 And through covetousness shall they with ^afeigned words make merchandise of you: whose ^bjudgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their ^cdamnation slumbereth not."

If you read the whole chapter you will note how it describes conditions existing today.

In Revelation, John then explains the restoration. Rev 14:6-7 -

6 And I saw another ^aangel fly in the midst of heaven, having the^beverlasting ^cgospel to ^dpreach unto them that dwell on the earth,and to every ^enation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,

 7 Saying with a loud voice, ^aFear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his ^bjudgment is come: and ^cworship ^dhim that made^eheaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.

Dr James E. Talmage says "It is illogical to assume that the gospel was to be brought to earth by a heavenly messenger if that gospel was still extant upon the earth.  Equally unreasonable is it to say that a restoration or re-establishment of the church of Christ would be necessary or possible had the Church continued with rightful succession of priesthood or power.  If the gospel had to be brought back again from the heavens, the gospel must have been take from the earth.  Thus the prophecy of a restoration is proof of an apostasy general and complete."

James E. Talmage D. Sc. D,  Ph D.,  F.R.S.E., The Great Apostasy 1968.

The Causes of the Apostasy

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To be continued