…VAN EEN VERNUFTIGE
MAKELIJ…
(1 Nephi 18:1)
Belgium/Netherlands Mission
THE
GREAT APOSTACY
During
my first mission, missionaries always had a large hurdle to cross when teaching
new investigators. We had to explain
that an apostasy took place, and as a result of that apostasy, none of the
present day churches are entirely correct.
PMG establishes this concept in a powerful way. Even the reformers did not profess to be called
by God as prophets, but on the contrary, attempted to only reform doctrine
which they considered to have been changed.
We spent considerable time teaching the doctrine of the great apostasy
and that it, along with the restoration of the fullness of the gospel in the
latter days, were truly prophesied by all the prophets of old. I have observed that people in Belgium and
Holland are not as concerned today with the doctrine of the apostasy. It may be only my perception or that most
people no longer have strong ties to churches they consider to be true. But, I still love and find value to review scripture
verses predicting the apostasy.
Isa.
29:9-10
People
will be drunken and stagger but not with strong drink. For the Lord will pour out upon the world the
spirit of deep sleep. The world’s eyes
will be closed and the prophets and rulers will be covered.
Isa.
24:3-5
The
Lord will make the earth empty and a waste place that is utterly emptied and
utterly spoiled. The earth and haughty
people will languish. This is because
the inhabitants of the earth have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinances
and broken the everlasting covenant.
Isa.
60:2
Darkness
shall cover the earth and gross darkness shall cover the people.
Jer.
2:13
His
people have forsaken him, the fountain of living waters, and have hewed out
broken cisterns that can hold no water.
Amos
8:11-12
The
Lord will send a famine in the land, not of bread or thirst for water, but of
hearing the words of the Lord. People
will wander from sea to sea and from the north to the east and shall run to and
fro to seek the word of the lord and shall not find it.
Matt.
24:14
The
gospel shall be preached in the entire world for a witness unto all nations;
and then shall the end come.
Jesus
Christ organized and established his church when he lived on the earth. After his death the church was managed by the
apostles through revelation from Christ as it was set up to do. But, the signs of apostasy began to show up
in the original church and the Apostles continued to prophesy that the great
apostasy would happen.
Acts
20:29-30
Paul said he knew that after his departing
grievous wolves shall enter among you and not spare the flock. Men within will arise speaking perverse
things and draw away disciples.
Gal.
1:6-9
Paul
marvels that the people are so soon removed to another gospel.
2
Thess. 2:3
Regarding
the return of Christ, that day shall not come, except there come a falling away
first.
1
Tim. 4:1-4
In
the latter times some shall depart from the faith giving heed to seducing
spirits…
2
Tim. 3:1-7
In
the last days perilous times shall come.
Men shall be …unthankful, unholy…and have a form of godliness, but
denying the power thereof.
2
Tim. 4:2-4
The
time will come when people will not endure sound doctrine. They shall turn away their ears from the
truth and which shall be turned into fables.
Rev.
14:7
John
the beloved said, in the last days an angel flying in heaven will have the
everlasting gospel to preach to them that dwell on the earth.
Elders
and Sisters, in John’s vision, the gospel was not on the earth but in the
heavens and will be proclaimed by an angel to every nation, kindred, tongue and
people. It is a privilege to belong to
the only church in these latter days that professes such an event and accepts
the great apostasy as a factual fulfilling of prophesies.
President
Robinson
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