Chapter 1 – The Apostasy

Was there truly a “Falling Away” or an “Apostasy” from the original Church that Jesus Christ established?

 In this study, we will examine that question using only the King James Version of the Holy Bible. Specifically, we will test the claim that a “great apostasy” occurred, as taught by Joseph Smith.

What Is Apostasy?

When Jesus Christ restored His fulness of the gospel back on earth through Joseph Smith, many followers said that there was a “great apostasy” from Christ’s original church.

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines “apostasy” as:

• An act of refusing to continue to follow, obey, or recognize a religious faith

• Abandonment of a previous loyalty: defection

The Apostle Paul speaks directly about a “falling away”:

“Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first…” 

So the key question becomes:

What kind of “falling away” does the Bible describe?

Actually, I am going to try and debunk the claim that there was a “great apostasy” from the original Church of Jesus Christ.

It is the apostle Paul that teaches that there was a “falling away” from Christ’s church.

2 Thessalonians 2:2,3

2. That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, not by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. 

3. 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;

Nature of the Falling Away

This “falling away” was to be from the original church organization, it’s doctrines, it’s teachings and the priesthood authority. 

While Christ was on the earth, He organized His church with apostles, prophets, and other offices.  Christ established that Church with the power of the priesthood with the accompanying ordinances.  He also established rules and/or commandments for His disciples to live by.  Then, He called the general membership to go two-by-two out into the world to spread His gospel. 

This “falling away” was a departure from the organization and teachings that Christ and His apostles set up while they were on the earth.

I personally believe that there was not an apostasy. There was no act of refusing to follow, obey or to “defect” from Christ’s church.

This “falling away” happened gradually. As the apostles died off, the priesthood line of authority and many of the teachings and ordinances slowly disappeared or were changed.

Historical Perspective

I can support my feelings through the writings of the second generation of church leaders.

There are more letters available from the second generation of church leaders that are translated, published and available in many bookstores.  One set of writings is “The Writings of the Apostolic Fathers.” 

These writings also record some of the early teachings and expected behavior of the general membership.

As I read letters that these Christian bishops wrote, over a period of several hundred years, the basic teachings and ordinances of the church changed.

In the period 307-337 A.D., the Roman Emperor Constantine I, having trouble hanging onto the Roman empire, decided to adopt the belief of the Christians as the state’s organized church. 

Constantine himself was a sun worshiper.  After this state adoption of Christianity, the Roman Emperors in Constantinople had complete power and control over the Christian religion for about 700 years. 

I do not view the Roman Catholic Church as “apostatizing” from the original Church of Jesus Christ. I believe that they sincerely tried to piece back together what was lost over the two hundred and fifty previous years.

The Roman Catholic Church recognized the importance of the priesthood authority that was present in the original church, and the necessity for a line of authority. The Catholic church has a record of all the leaders of the Catholic church, or “Popes,” from the time of the Apostle Peter.

Later Divisions

In about 1054 A.D. the actual first apostasy occurred.  This is when Rome and Constantinople split and the Roman Catholic Church was created. 

This resulted in:

• The Roman Catholic Church (West) based out of Rome (the Vatican)

• The Eastern Orthodox Church (East) based out of Constantinople. 

The early 1500’s began yet another major division or apostasy. This is what is called the Protestant Reformation. 

Martin Luther challenged the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church.  The Roman Catholic Church viewed this as an apostasy from Christ’s church and Martin Luther was subsequently excommunicated from the Roman Catholic Church. 

This incident led to the separation of the Church of England, the branching off of Calvinism, and other “radical sects” that wanted to teach what they thought was the correct teachings of Jesus Christ. In the next video, I will delve more deeply into the history of the Protestant Reformation.

Old Testament Prophecies

Focusing first on the Old Testament Prophecies of the “falling away,” one of the first prophecies was from the prophet Isaiah.  He speaks specifically of the leaders and members of the church who have changed the ordinance and broke the everlasting covenant. 

The leaders of the Roman Catholic Church, somewhere between 300 A.D. to the 1500’s, changed the ordinance that was established by the Lord.  These many changes instituted by the Roman Catholic Church led to the Protestant Reformation beginning in the 1500’s.

Isaiah prophesied about the falling away:

Isaiah 24:5

The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant.

“Broken the everlasting covenant!” Wew! I will have a separate video on “the Covenant People” in Chapter 15, about the 21st video.

Now, on to another prophecy by Isaiah, the church members and leaders in the latter days are again revealed for their shallowness of sincerity towards God. 

Isaiah 29:13

Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:

In this passage, the religious leaders accused of teaching the things of God by their own precepts or beliefs and not by the inspiration of God through His prophets, as was done throughout the history of the Bible. 

Does this meet the dictionary’s definition of Apostasy? “Abandonment of a previous loyalty: DEFECTION!”

Another Old Testament prophet, Amos tells how God works through His leaders in the following passage.

Amos 3:7

Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.

Isaiah continued prophesying of the apostasy from Christ’s original church in the following passage.

Isaiah 60:2

For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people; but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.

In this past passage, Isaiah foretold of the “dark ages” where the world did not progress. There were no prophets! The head of the Roman Catholic Church was and is not called a prophet, but instead is called a Pope. 

It is this official policy of “the heavens are closed” that fulfills this next prophecy by Amos:

Amos 8:11

Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord.

Here we have four prophesies from Isaiah and Amos on the “falling away” from the teachings, ordinances and modern revelation.

New Testament Warnings

The Apostle Paul was very aware of the upcoming “falling away” from Christ’s church.  He preached to many of the different congregations about the “falling away” and continually warned of it.  His clearest message was in the passage that we already discussed in 2nd Thessalonia chapter 2 where he prophesied to them that the second coming of Christ cannot come except there be a “falling away” first.

2 Thessalonians 2:2,3

2. That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, not by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. 

3. 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;

Paul then warned the Thessalonians that the mystery of that iniquity of the “falling away” was already working before the death of the apostles.

2 Thessalonians 2:7

For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.

Paul also warned the saints:

Acts 20:29-31

29. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. 

30. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.

31. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.

The “falling away” again, was this warning about the leaders of the church teaching false doctrines?

Paul talked to the current membership in Corinth where he acknowledges that there are already divisions amongst the leaders and membership of the church.

1 Corinthians 11:18, 19

18. For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it. 

19. For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.

Paul wrote Titus, who was in Crete, of the membership who professed that they knew God, but in works they denied Him, being abominable and disobedient.

Titus 1:15,16

15. Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. 

16. They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

The last warning of the apostasy by Paul was to the saints in Galatia.  Paul was surprised that they were so soon to “pervert” the ways of Christ!

Galatians 1:6,7

6. I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: 

7. Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.

Warnings to Timothy

In Paul’s letter to the Apostle Timothy, Paul actually prophesied what is more than just a “falling away,” this could actually be an apostasy. Paul actually speaks of this on three different occasions.  The first was talking about the apostasy from the original Church of Jesus Christ. 

2 Timothy 3:1-7

1. This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 

2. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

3. Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 

4. Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

5. Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof; from such turn away. 

6. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,

7. Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Paul continues with the prophesies of the apostasy from the original church. 

2 Timothy 4:3,4

3. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

4. And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

Another time in the Book of Timothy was with the apostle Paul; Timothy was experiencing similar problems with the leaders and membership of the church.  The membership that was established in Asia had already turned him away.

2 Timothy 1:15 – This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me; of who are Phygellus and Hermogenes.

We find them correcting some of the leaders of the saints. 

1 Timothy 1:6,7

6. From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling;

7. Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.

An example of what these particular leaders taught is that the resurrection was already past.

2 Timothy 2:16-18

16. But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. 

17. And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;

18. Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.

A very interesting perception in Timothy, Paul reveals that not only did he know of and also prophesy of the apostasy, he also understood the restoration of the gospel in the latter times.  Knowing that after the apostasy and the “dark ages,” the fullness of the gospel would exist, he prophesizes that in those latter times some will also depart from the faith giving heed to the doctrines of devils. 

1 Timothy 4:1

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;

Words of Jesus

Jesus Christ even had a few words to say about the apostasy.

Matthew 24:5 –For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ: and shall deceive many.

Matthew 24:24 –For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

Could Jesus Christ be warning the Christians about the Mormon Church here? We are about the only church that professes that Jesus Christ is physically leading our Church through living prophets. We believe that our living Prophet, Dallon H. Oaks actually walks and talks, face to face, with Jesus Christ. We believe that our Apostles receive direct revelation from Jesus Christ. We know that the “heavens are once again open!”

So, to see if Joseph Smith’s was “perverting the gospel of Christ” with his new…or old, 83 doctrines and teachings, I have set up the The Biblical Support Chart.

This Biblical Support Chart is the section that will list whether or not the teachings of Joseph Smith’s will have some kind of support from the King James Version of the Bible.  It is important to note that not all religious sects will interpret the listed passages the same way Joseph Smith interpreted them.  What is important is that in the passages listed, do they talk about what Joseph Smith taught?  Or do they or could they support, in basic English, what Joseph Smith taught?

For this particular chapter and video on the Apostasy, I believe that there are Bible comments on the potential of an apostasy in both the Old Testament and the New Testament.

The Biblical Support Chart

Is the following topics supported in the Bible? Yes or NO

1. Does the Old Testament support Joseph Smith’s teaching on the Apostasy? Yes

(Isaiah 24:5; 29:13, 60:2; Amos 8:11)

1. Does the New Testament support Joseph Smith’s teaching on the Apostasy? Yes

(2 Thes 2:2,3,7; Acts 20:29-31; 1 Cor 11:18,19; Titus 1:15,16; Gal 1:6,7; 1 Tim 4:1; 2 Tim 3:1-7; 4:3,4; 2 Tim 1:15; 2:16-18; Acts 20:29-31; Matt 24:5,24)

For this chapter, I conclude that the Bible does support the idea of a “falling away” in both the Old and New Testaments.

Thank you for staying tuned in with me!