My religion teaches that the original church established by Jesus and his apostles fell way in apostasy, as predicted in 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3 (NASB):
1 Now we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him,
2 that you not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come.
3 Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction,
How does your faith interpret this passage?
Thanks for the post, the scripture references given indicate that Jesus did establish a church and left authority with the apostles to act in his name. I realize many Christians do no believe this to be so.
I would add from Ephesians 2 (NASB):
19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household,
20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone,
21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord,
22 in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.
Of course, this could be interpreted to say the Bible is that foundation, and the writings and traditions from which the Bible sprang, i.e. there was no Bible as we know it today at the time of this epistle.
Please give me the date of this monumental historical event. It would be helpful if you could also show me the genuine historical documents which "prove" what your church charges. Of the thousands of genuine historical documents of every century going all the way back to the first century, and which are available for anyone to research, why is there no mention of this so-called earth shaking "great Apostasy" anywhere to be found? Don't you think that a falling away of the Church which Jesus Christ founded would "rock the universe", so to speak, and be the cause of a great chastisement from GOD after what His Son went through in His passion? Look at what happened to the Jews for their disobedience?
On the contrary. Jesus promised the Holy Spirit would be with, and teach His Church forever in John 14:16-17. Such an accusation as made by your church is tantamount to calling Jesus Christ a liar for His promises of perpetuity to His Church? See 1John 5:10.