APOSTASY: Fact or Myth?

IS APOSTASY A FACT OR A MYTH? The authorities and defenders of the Catholic Church have denied the apostasy as fact and dismissed it as a myth. However, it will remain a biblical fact because it is explicitly written in the Bible.

Does the Bible explicitly say that apostasy will take place in the first-century Church of Christ?

WHAT THE LORD JESUS CHRIST SAID

The Lord Jesus Christ said:

“Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time MANY WILL TURN AWAY FROM THE FAITH and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people.”

(Reference: Matthew 24:9-11 NIV, Emphasis Mine)

One of the meanings of Apostasy is “turning away from the faith.” Who are those that He refers to that many of them will turn away from the faith? The Lord Jesus also said, “Then YOU will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and YOU will be hated by all nations because of me. AT THAT TIME many will turn away from the faith…”

The Lord Jesus Christ is talking to His disciples, the first-century Church Of Christ members. The Lord Jesus prophesied that His disciples will be persecuted and put to death. Did this happen? Were members of the first-century Church Of Christ persecuted and put to death? The first who persecuted the first-century Church were the Jews:

“And Saul was there, giving approval to his death. On that day a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison.”

(Reference: Acts 8:1-3 NIV)

During the Jewish persecution of the Church, many were put to death, including Stephen and James, the brother of John. The first-century Church also suffered persecution from the Roman Empire:

“Tacitus recorded the rumor that Nero had ordered the fire that destroyed part of the city of Rome. This rumor was so widely accepted by the people that Nero had to find a scapegoat. He diverted feeling against himself to the Christians by accusing them of arson and by engaging a saturnalia of destruction of the Christians.”

(Reference : Christianity Through the Centuries, Third Edition, Revised and Expanded, A History of the Christian Church By Earle E. Cairns, p.140)

The Roman imperial persecution of the Church was initiated by the Roman Emperor Nero. During the Neronian persecution, many Christians were put to death. The second imperial persecution was during the reign of Roman Emperor Domitian:

“Persecution broke out again in 95 during the reign of the despotic Domitian. The Jews had refused to pay a poll tax that had been levied for the support of Capitolinus Jupiter. Because the Christians continued to be associated with the Jews, they also suffered the effects of the emperor’s wrath. It was during this persecution that the apostle John was exiled to the Isle of Patmos, where he wrote the Book of Revelation.”

(Reference : Christianity Through the Centuries, Third Edition, Revised and Expanded, A History of the Christian Church By Earle E. Cairns, p.141)

The imperial persecution continued even after the first century:

“In 235 Alexander Severus was succeeded by the emperor Maximin, who disliked the favour shown to Christians in the in the imperial household, and for a short period there was an unpleasant persecution which, unlike most of the earlier persecutions where the decisive factor was the attitude of the local governor, seems to have been inspired by the emperor’s personal decision.”

(Reference: Pelican History Of The Church, Vol One: The Early Church by Henry Chadwick, p. 110-111)

Take note of what the Lord Jesus Christ said in Matthew 24:9-11. Let us read this verse again:

“Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time MANY WILL TURN AWAY FROM THE FAITH and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people.”

(Reference: Matthew 24:9-11 NIV, Emphasis Mine)

The Lord Jesus Christ not only prophesied that the first-century Church Of Christ would be persecuted and put to death (“Then YOU will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and YOU will be hated by all nations because of Me…”), but Christ also prophesied that apostasy would take place (“…At that time MANY WILL TURN AWAY FROM THE FAITH…”).

The prophecy proclaimed by the Lord Jesus Christ in Matthew 24:9-11 that the first century Church will be persecuted and put to death did indeed take place, just as the second part of His prophecy stating that “many will turn away from the faith” (the first century Church will be apostatized) was also fulfilled.

WHAT THE LORD JESUS CHRIST DID NOT SAY

The proponents of the Catholic faith argue that asserting the occurrence of apostasy within the first-century Church of Christ contradicts the statement made by the Lord Jesus Christ in Matthew 16:18. They further contend that those who propagate the notion of apostasy in the early Church of Christ are essentially calling the Lord Jesus a liar, as they believe that Christ explicitly stated in Matthew 16:18 that apostasy would not occur. Let us examine this passage:

“And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.”

(Reference: Matthew 16:18, Emphasis Mine)

There is nothing in this verse indicating that the Lord Jesus Christ stated, “Apostasy will not take place within the first-century Church of Christ.” This is only their interpretation of what the Lord Jesus Christ said: “…the gates of Hades will not overcome it (the Church the Lord Jesus Christ built).” Let us let the Bible explain what Christ meant. In the Revised Standard Version, this is how it renders Matthew 16:18:

“And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it.”

(Reference: Matthew 16:18 RSV, Emphasis Mine)

This is not our own interpretation. What Matthew 16:18 states is, “…the gates of Hades will not overcome it,” is explained by another version of the Bible, which renders it as, “the powers of death shall not prevail against it.” Why did the Lord Jesus Christ say that “the powers of death shall not prevail against His Church”? Apostle Paul explains this in I Thessalonians 4:16:

“For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.”

(Reference: I Thessalonians 4:16 NIV, Emphasis Mine)

Those referred to by Apostle Paul when he said “in Christ” are the members of the Church Of Christ. Apostle Paul called them “in Christ,” and those who are “in Christ” are part of Christ’s church, for Christ said — “my church.” So for those who are in Christ’s church or body, “the powers of death shall not prevail against it,” which Apostle Paul clarified to mean that “the dead in Christ will rise first.” This is the true meaning of unlocking Matthew 16:18. Therefore, nowhere in this passage did Christ claim or insinuate that the church would not apostatize.

Therefore, when Christ proclaimed, “…the gates of Hades will not overcome the Church,” He was not implying the immunity of the Church of Christ from apostasy. Moreover, it is inconceivable that the Lord Jesus Christ would contradict or countermand his own prophecy of the impending apostasy, as he unequivocally stated, “At that time MANY WILL TURN AWAY FROM THE FAITH.” This prophecy materialized after Christ’s ascension and the death of the Apostles.

IN CONCLUSION

1

Matthew 16:18 does not hint or indicate that the Church of Christ would not apostatize. This is just the personal interpretation and misunderstanding among those who insist that apostasy did not occur

2

Historical evidence of apostasy was undeniably fulfilled through the great tribulation and persecution that the Church of Christ underwent after the departure of Christ and the Apostles. Millions of Christians were hunted, tortured, and killed. In addition, the rise of many false prophets emerging from within the church, contaminating the pristine doctrines of Christ and many turning away from the true faith, bringing full circle to the apostasy.

To learn more about the Apostasy or the restoration of the true Church built by Christ you may visit the following links below:

The Apostasy

AFTER THE DEATH of Jesus Christ and His Apostles, the Apostasy took place. Christians were hunted down, persecuted, and killed, causing the church to drift from the original teachings of Christ and His Apostles. False teachings emerged, leading to the contamination of the pure doctrine. With the Apostles no longer around to defend the truth, the Church Of Christ evolved into a different organization ( the Catholic Church), adopting many pagan rituals and deviating from the pristine gospel established by Christ. This era is known as the “Great Apostasy.”

The Third Group of Christ

THE TRUE CHURCH of Christ is Comprised of 3 Groups. Before Christ’s ascension to heaven, He prophesized about His other sheep (the third group of people) or flock that were not part of His flock then. The flock being the Church of Christ (Acts 20:28 Lamsa). Christ said he will call his other sheep “in the future” they will be one flock or Church of Christ:

“I have other sheep too. They are not in this flock here. I must lead them also. They will listen to my voice. IN THE FUTURE there will be one flock and one shepherd.” (John 10:16 Easy-to-Read Version, Emphasis Mine)

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“Do not let unwholesome [foul, profane, worthless, vulgar] words ever come out of your mouth, but only such speech as is good for building up others, according to the need and the occasion, so that it will be a blessing to those who hear [you speak].”
(Eph. 4:29, Amplified Bible)

“Love endures with patience and serenity, love is kind and thoughtful, and is not jealous or envious; love does not brag and is not proud or arrogant. It is not rude; it is not self-seeking, it is not provoked [nor overly sensitive and easily angered]; it does not take into account a wrong endured.”
(1 Corinthians 13:4-5, Amplified Bible)