Falling Away

We believe the falling away of II Thessalonians 2 is speaking of the Catholic Church. Rome counters by teaching the argument that the church cannot cease to exist. Christ would be with us till the end of the world. Therefore the church could not fall away. Yet it could be speaking of major parts of the church falling away, which is our belief.

Rome's rebuttal with the eternal existence of Christ with the church would only be useful if we taught the whole church fell away and ceased to exist. Since we didn't teach the whole church fell away it is really a straw man argument. It is effective only because of ignorance of our actual position.

They deceive people by saying we believe the true church ceased to exist in the early years of Christianity, but we never taught the church completely ceased to exist. We taught that it was present in small groups who continued to worship as the Apostles taught. Sometimes having to move to other countries or go underground to keep from being destroyed.

I believe they confuse us with the Mormon Latter Day Saints who teach the Church ceased to exist before being restored by Joseph Smith. Here is part of an article from one of the Mormon professors. https://www.lds.org/ensign/1984/12/early-signs-of-the-apostasy?lang=eng

The foregoing passages demonstrate that Jesus and his Apostles knew that the Church which they headed would come to an end shortly after their generation. But perhaps even more striking than the prophecies of apostasy is the evidence of apostasy actually taking place as the New Testament was being written. In the writings of the Apostles we have ample evidence that as the Christian church grew so also did the cancerous elements within it that finally led to its death. The New Testament not only foretold the death of the Church, but it also recorded it as it happened. In fact, the end of the New Testament essentially heralds the end of the Church.

We do not teach the church ceased to exist, but unlike Catholics we do not believe every church would have faithful Bishops/Elders, in many Churches such as Corinth the Eldership was replaced in a coup as recorded in the writings of Clement. As Churches fell faithful brothers and sisters were in essence left to themselves. They would meet without leadership as they did prior to the selection of Elders, as they did prior to Acts 14:23.

Act 14:23  And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

Or they had to meet under leadership that won the takeover. Which were an unfaithful group. In some cases there were two churches, we know that in Rome there were Donatist Bishops parallel to Catholic Bishops.

Or as the Donatists, they brought Elders from another city to establish a faithful congregation when they say groups falling into sin.

Paul did teach Rome could fall away, so while the church in some capacity would exist, Christ never taught Rome would stay faithful. Christ's promise to be with us was not meant to say a large part of Christianity couldn't fall away, including Rome.

Rom 11:22  Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.

Thus we know that Rome's rebuttal isn't very sound. We can also add that the Church though existing would not always be completely visible.

Rev 12:14  And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.

The Church wasn't meant to be in the public spectacle in all ages and was often carried to areas persecution was less. The wilderness in Revelation signifies a place out of the way from mainstream view.

Also keep in mind that false religion was viewed as Catholic/universal.

The false religion was viewed as large and universal.

Rev 17:15  And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.

The woman's seed is viewed as a remnant.

Rev 12:17  And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed,

which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Then in the fall of Babylon it depicts the fall of cities. False religion would control most major cities.

Rev 16:19  And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell:

We can trace the existence of groups throughout history that match us doctrinally. In England for example we can trace groups known as the Churches of Christ in the 11th century.

http://traces-of-the-kingdom.org/

We know the Churches of Christ existed hundreds of years before the restoration movement. The restoration movement shouldn't be seen as restoring Christianity on earth, but in an area and time.

Campbell actually quoted works showing Churches in Britain and Europe before his restoration call.

We also know that from Paul's example in I Corinthians that large numbers can be lost at any given time. A large percentage of a group can turn to sin in just a few moments.

1Co 10:1  Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;

1Co 10:2  And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;

1Co 10:3  And did all eat the same spiritual meat;

1Co 10:4  And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.

1Co 10:5  But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.

1Co 10:6  Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.

1Co 10:7  Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.

1Co 10:8  Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.

1Co 10:9  Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.

1Co 10:10  Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.

1Co 10:11  Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

There is no doctrine prohibiting large groups from falling away. The example of large numbers falling is an example for us to heed.