Paul and Peter warned local congregations of believers about false prophets and teachers:
Acts 20:29-30 2; Thessalonians 2:3; 1 Timothy 4:1-2; 2 Peter 2:1-2
Jesus and His Apostles did not fail in their efforts to firmly establish the Gospel:
Matthew 16:18; Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:8; Acts 20:28
1 Corinthians 3:10-11; Ephesians 2:20
Ephesians 3:21; Jude 1:3
From the day of Pentecost the Lord continued to add to His Church all who are born again through the Holy Spirit:
John 1:12-13; Acts 2:21, 47; Romans 8:14-16; Romans 10:9-13; Galatians 3:26
The LDS teach that after the death of Jesus, wicked people killed the Apostles. And with their death, priesthood keys were taken from the earth. Over time the doctrines were corrupted, and changes were made in church organization and ordinances.
What was the purpose for having the first apostles and disciples if they all apostatized? Why would Jesus set up His kingdom – only to have it completely collapse?
Why would Jesus in His Commission to His Apostles (Matthew 28:18-20) send them out to teach all nations and make disciples? Why did He give them power of the Holy Spirit to witness to the whole earth (Acts 1:8)?
And then allow His creation to languish in unbelief, cut off from eternal life for almost two thousand years before putting things back in order again? Is it possible for Christ to lose His Church, which “He purchased with His own blood” as stated in Acts 20:28?
If Paul was referring to a “universal” apostasy, why did he write to those same Ephesians about the Church of God being throughout “all ages” (Ephesians 3:21)?
The LDS support their belief that their was a “falling away” with 2 Thessalonians 2:3.
But it is obvious that Paul was speaking about a specific “man of sin” an Antichrist, who many Biblical experts say was probably the Roman Emperor Nero.
Jesus in Matthew 16:18 when speaking of the rock He built his Church upon, He promised His disciples that “the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” If a universal Apostasy did take place like the LDS teach it did and the gates of hell prevailed, that would make Jesus a liar.
And that – I cannot accept.
