This is what their website states as the foundation of their beliefs, under the FAQ's page:
Q - Can you please tell me about the origins and history of your church?
A - In the 1830’s faithful Christians from several denominations shared a longing that the Lord would restore to the church what had been so vital in the first church, the full activity of the Holy Spirit and the leadership of the Apostle ministry. They fervently prayed for the restoration of these divine gifts. In response to this intense longing and these sincere prayers, spiritual gifts of prophesy and healing were awakened. On October 31, 1832 the first Apostle of the second sending, John Bate Cardale, was called by divine prophesy. Over the next three years, eleven more men from various denominations, social positions and religious training were called to the Apostle ministry.
These Apostles withdrew for a year to study the Scripture and insure a complete understanding of their apostolic commission. When they emerged, the Apostles immediately began traveling, preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ, sealing souls with the Holy Spirit, ordaining ministers for the care of the congregations and working to fulfill their commission of preparing souls for the coming of Christ. That work of Grace and Apostleship continues to this day.
The above is the short version of our origin and history. For those that are interested, the following is a more complete explanation.
The Fullness of Time –
The Apostle Paul wrote the following about the sending of Jesus Christ: “But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son … to redeem those who were under the law, that they might receive the adoption as sons.” (Galatians 2:4,5) The promise of the Redeemer had been made to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, but the promise was not fulfilled until the time was right. Political, cultural and technical conditions had to be such that Jesus Christ could establish His Kingdom and the glad tidings be spread.
During a short window of history called Pax Romana, conditions were right. There existed a world wide peace. The Romans had built a network of excellent roads; they had established well traveled trade routes across the Mediterranean Sea; a reliable postal system was in place; there was a single international language; the Old Testament had just been translated into Greek and thereby read throughout the empire. The fullness of time had come. It was within the protection of this peace, on these roads and in these ships that the Apostles of Christ traveled to spread the gospel and establish congregations. The postal system enabled the Apostles to send the letters that now make up most of the New Testament. In this propitious time, the church of Christ, God’s Kingdom, was established and the gospel proclaimed. Jesus Christ, Himself, acknowledged it; “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand.” (Mark 1:15)
We review this history because it gives us an insight into divine planning and timing. Jesus Christ promised that He would come again. When? In the fullness of time!
Jesus Christ had commissioned the Apostles; “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…and I will be with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19,20) In regard to His return He said, “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end shall come.” (Matthew 24:14) Did this prophecy apply only to the nations in the known world at that time, or did He really mean “all the world” and “all the nations”? How could it be possible for His Apostles to go to all nations to teach the gospel? When the fullness of time was come, all would be possible.
Let us consider what would fulfill the time. Again, political, cultural and technical conditions had to be right.
With the death of the last Apostle of the first church the world, not coincidentally, fell into the dark ages. (See Matthew 5:14) In the 14th century the world began to awaken from its dark slumber. The era called “Renaissance” (rebirth) began.
The world began to open. Christopher Columbus discovered America. Vasco de Gama sailed around Africa to Asia. Magellan circumnavigated the world. Christ’s reference to “all the world” and “all the nations” took on meaning.
A new political era began with the American and French Revolutions. With democracy came freedom of religion.
Consider the changes in technology in the last decades. We live in an era of continuing and rapid change but it was not always such. In 1800 nothing moved faster on earth than the speed of a horse – no cargo, no person, no message. It had been that way for thousands of years. By 1830 everything had changed. Communication was revolutionized - a message could be sent over telegraph lines almost instantaneously. Transportation was revolutionized - the steam engine provided rail travel at “breakneck” speed. These were only the beginning of the technological developments that we have witnessed into our time. The fullness of time had come. The gospel of Christ could be preached “in all the world as a witness to all the nations.”
One final aspect of this fullness of time needs to be considered. As a part of this awakening came the spiritual revival called the Reformation. Guttenberg invented the printing press; the Bible was printed and gained widespread distribution. It was translated into the various languages. Men and women of faith read of the church as Jesus Christ had established it and longed for its restoration. Heroes like Luther, Melanchthon, and Zwingly were way preparers in this cause.
It was out of this same longing that the faithful Christians we spoke about in the first paragraph, prayed for the sending of the Holy Spirit and the reestablishment of the Apostle ministry. The world was prepared – the fullness of time had come where the gospel could be preached “in all the world as a witness to all the nations.” Now the Lord would send Apostles again with the commission, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations” and Christ would fulfill His promise, “I will be with you always, even to the end of the age.”
The New Apostolic Church, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and the leadership of Apostles of Jesus Christ, strives to complete the spiritual work of preparation for Christ’s return. Out of the ranks of those first believers in the 1830’s, the church has grown to over ten million members world wide.
2006-07-17 01:49:58
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answered by canguroargentino 4
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