The Great Apostacy

THE GREAT APOSTASY

Was there really a great apostasy? Did the true Church die out so we now need a restoration the Mormon Church being the true Church restored? The biblical response is clear. In Matthew 16:18 Jesus declared, "I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." Ask them, "Does this sound to you like Jesus thought there would be a total apostasy? Could Jesus have been wrong?" Keep in mind, in your conversation, that Jesus has all authority in heaven and on earth (Matthew 28:18). Therefore, how could he fail? (See also, Ephesians 3:21; Hebrews 12:28; and Daniel 2:44.)

"Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen" (Eph. 3.21).

"Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear" (Heb. 12.28).

"And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever" (Dan. 2.44).

Mormons will use a variety of passages to support their belief in a complete apostasy (e.g., Acts 20:30; 2 Thessalonians 2:3; 1 Timothy 4:1). But none of these actually teaches a universal apostasy; they only teach a limited falling away. Make sure you read these passages aloud when Mormons refer to them.

"Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them" (Acts 20.30). Limited.

"Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition" (2 Thess. 2.3). Limited.

"Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils" (1 Tim. 4.1). Limited.

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