What if you realized that there is no such things a Great Apostasy of the Catholic Church?

Question

Jer. 33:17 - Jeremiah prophesies that David shall never lack a man to sit on the throne of the earthly House of Israel. Either this is a false prophecy, or David has a successor of representatives throughout history.

Dan. 2:44 - Daniel prophesies an earthly kingdom that will never be destroyed. Either this is a false prophecy, or the earthly kingdom requires succession.

Isa. 22:20 - in the old Davidic kingdom, Eliakim succeeds Shebna as the chief steward of the household of God. The kingdom employs a mechanism of dynastic succession. King David was dead for centuries, but his kingdom is preserved through a succession of representatives.

Isa. 22:19 - Shebna is described as having an "office" and a "station." An office, in order for it to be an office, has successors. In order for an earthly kingdom to last, a succession of representatives is required.

Jer. 33:17 - Jeremiah prophesies that David shall never lack a man to sit on the throne of the earthly House of Israel. Either this is a false prophecy, or David has a successor of representatives throughout history.

Dan. 2:44 - Daniel prophesies an earthly kingdom that will never be destroyed. Either this is a false prophecy, or the earthly kingdom requires succession.

Isa. 22:20 - in the old Davidic kingdom, Eliakim succeeds Shebna as the chief steward of the household of God. The kingdom employs a mechanism of dynastic succession. King David was dead for centuries, but his kingdom is preserved through a succession of representatives.

Isa. 22:21 - Eliakim is called “father” or “papa” of God's people. The word Pope used by Catholics to describe the chief steward of the earthly kingdom simply means papa or father in Italian. This is why Catholics call the leader of the Church "Pope." The Pope is the father of God's people, the chief steward of the earthly kingdom and Christ's representative on earth.

Isa. 22:22 - we see that the keys of the kingdom pass from Shebna to Eliakim. Thus, the keys are used not only as a symbol of authority, but also to facilitate succession. The keys of Christ's kingdom have passed from Peter to Linus all the way to our current Pope with an unbroken lineage for almost 2,000 years.

Acts 1:20 - we see in the early Church that successors are immediately chosen for the apostles' offices. Just as the Church replaced Judas, it also replaced Peter with a successor after Peter's death.

John 21:15-17; Luke 22:31-32 - Jesus' creation of Peter's office as chief shepherd with the keys passed to Linus, Cletus, Clement I, all the way to our current Holy Father.
Matt. 23:2 - this shows that the Jews understood the importance of succession to the chair and its attendant authority. Here, Jesus respects Moses' seat ("cathedra") of authority which was preserved by succession. In the Church, Peter's seat is called the "cathedra," and when Peter's successor speaks officially on a matter of faith or morals, it may rise to the level of an "ex cathedra" (from the chair) teaching.
Eph. 3:21 - this divine word tells us that Jesus Christ's Church will exist in all generations. Only the Catholic Church can prove by succession such existence. Our Protestant brothers and sisters become uncomfortable with this passage because it requires them to look for a Church that has existed for over 2,000 years.

Answer 1

Great question. Non-Catholics should seriously consider your thought provoking question.

Why does the Catholic Church believe that it is the only true Christian church? What about other churches?
Jesus said:

"thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it" (Matthew 16:18, KJV)

"Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me" (John 17:20-23, KJV)

"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world" (Matthew 28:19-20, KJV).

Jesus established only one church, the one He founded on Peter, the rock. He prayed that all His followers would be one, and He promised that He would be with His Church until the end of the world. This was recognized by Saint Paul when he wrote:

"Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit -- just as you were called to one hope when you were called -- one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all" (Ephesians 4:3-6, NIV).

One faith means one set of beliefs, one set of doctrines; doctrines which never change. There is only one Catholic Church but there are over 26,000 Protestant denominations today; each separated from the other by differing doctrines. Each of these denominations can be traced back to a single individual who was not Saint Peter or one of the apostles.

Every Christian church possesses some of the truths revealed by our Lord but only the Catholic Church can trace its origins all the way back to Jesus and Saint Peter through the rite of ordination; the laying on of hands and passing on of episcopal responsibility and authority. Because only the Catholic Church can be traced all the way back to Jesus, only the Catholic Church can be said to possess all the revealed truth. After all, Jesus founded the Church, promised that the gates of hell would not prevail against it (which means that it would be perpetual and not teach error), and promised to be with it until the end of time. Not at the end of time, but continually until the end of time. Either the Catholic Church was and is the one true Church, or the Bible is wrong, or Jesus lied.

Answer 2

Jer 33:17 The king of Israel will be one of David's descendants,

Dan 2:44 During the time of those kings, the God who rules from heaven will set up an eternal kingdom that will never fall. It will be like the stone that was cut from the mountain, but not by human hands--the stone that crushed the iron, bronze, clay, silver, and gold. Your Majesty, in your dream the great God has told you what is going to happen, and you can trust this interpretation.
Isa 22:20 He will give your official robes and your authority to his servant Eliakim son of Hilkiah. Eliakim will be like a father to the people of Jerusalem and to the royal family of Judah.
Isa 22:19 The LORD is going to take away your job!

You have entirely changed words in those verses you have mentioned. do you know what God will do to you in changing verses in Revelation? Here it is:

Rev 22:18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
Rev 22:19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

In Daniel 2:44 It is the Kingdom of God that will never be destroyed

Answer 3

The great apostasy began at the end of the fist century. It continues down to our day. Although beginning at the end of the 19th century a revival of true worship began to appear. This is in preparation for the day of Wrath by Jehovah God. This revival took people out of the apostate religions, not just the Catholic Church but all of the religions and they were gradually given the correct understanding of the scriptures.. These people were chosen out of all nations, tribes, and tongues to begin the process of preaching the Good News of God's Kingdom as the only hope for mankind. Although when they began this revival they were still hanging on to some of the apostate teachings only to realize this as they progressed in knowledge. Today this new understanding of the scriptures is being proclaimed to all the nations as a witness to them and then the end will come. Matthew 24:14.

Answer 4

I hear vague accusations frequently from some of the members of the so called “restoration churches” and others such as the Baptists and the Seventh Day Adventists, always without substance or supporting evidence, that Christ’s Church, the Catholic Church, has fallen on apostasy. There is no evidence at all that this happened, either Biblical or historical.

One of the things that bother me the most about such egregious claims is it attacks the veracity of Christ’s teaching and that of the apostles. It supposes Jesus to be a liar and a pretender as the Messiah. It denies His divinity and makes many of His statements and teaching blasphemous. The Bible clearly states that Jesus said that the gates of hell would not prevail against the Church, yet many claim that it has and the Church has fallen into apostasy.

(Mat 16:18 DRB) And I say to thee: That thou art Peter; and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

It would seem that some believe that Jesus was incompetent when building His church with Himself as the cornerstone and the disciples as the foundation, and that it fell into apostasy. Jesus built His Church upon rock with a foundation to last for all time. Here is what Jesus answered to these claims

(Luk 6:47 DRB) Every one that cometh to me and heareth my words and doth them, I will shew you to whom he is like.

(Luk 6:48 DRB) He is like to a man building a house, who digged deep and laid the foundation upon a rock. And when a flood came, the stream beat vehemently upon that house: and it could not shake it: for it was founded on a rock.

(Luk 6:49 DRB) But he that heareth and doth not is like to a man building his house upon the earth without a foundation: against which the stream beat vehemently. And immediately it fell: and the ruin of that house was great.

They even suggest that the disciples of the apostles were the ones responsible for that apostasy. He said that through the apostolic succession that the church would be led to all truth.

(Joh 14:26 DRB) But the Paraclete, the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring all things to your mind, whatsoever I shall have said to you.

The Scriptures teach that Christ will be with His Church for all times…

(Mat 28:20 DRB) Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you. And behold I am with you all days, even to the consummation of the world.

Jesus is not a liar. His promises to His Church are true and it will endure for all time as the ark of truth for humanity against the evil and temptations of the world.

In Christ
Fr. Joseph

Answer 5

"The gates of hell shall not prevail against it."...If the Catholic Church is now an apostate Church as some 'christian' sects claim, was Jesus lying when he said this?

Answer 6

Interesting fact: Old Testament verses have no bearing on wether the Catholic Church preaches the same message as Jesus. Which, for the record, it does not, despite what your quotes say. If Jesus were alive, he would utterly abhor the Church.

Answer 7

Sorry....... the Catholic Church will.... ALWAYS BE APOSTATE!

They.... Teach.... Salvation by WORKS..... and..... Not by Grace... as the Bible Does!

(Ephesians 2:8-9-10) For by grace you are saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God,

(Eph 2:9) not of works, lest anyone should boast.

(Eph 2:10) For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to good works, which God has before ordained that we should walk in them.

AND.....

(Titus 3:5) not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,

AND.....

(Hebrews 5:7-8-9) For Jesus, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications with strong cryings and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard in that He feared,

(Heb 5:8) though being a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered.

(Heb 5:9) And being perfected, He became the Author of eternal salvation to all those who obey Him,

Thanks for NOT Asking ! RR

Answer 8

Well, would that bring back the innocent heretics the European Catholic Church ruthlessly burned to death?

Answer 9

Please Access this Link, and You May Be Interested about this "Take" on The Origins of Christianity. In Your Browser, PLEASE, Type In: Zeitgeist The Movie, 2007

Answer 10

I would say you have been brainwashed.