Why Did Jesus Come When an Apostasy Was Inevitable?

[mfbukowski]

On another thread, Katherine the Great said:

The more I learn about early Christianity the more I learn that they were a VERY diverse group--almost as diverse as Christians are today. I've come to believe that original Christianity really only existed while Christ was on the earth. After that, just walk fifty miles to a different version of Christianity.

To which I said:

You know for the 30 some years I have been studying this, I have not thought about it in quite exactly those terms. So what are the implications of this for what we call the "apostasy"? In a sense do you think there was never really anything to apostasize FROM? Obviously the doctrine of the apostles was consistent, but when you have illiterate folks who are 100% brand new converts passing their individual understanding of "doctrine" by word of mouth, how does "pure doctrine" stand a chance?

So then the question arises, WHY did Christ come in the meridian of time when the apostasy was all but inevitable?

Was it intended to happen this way, so that some rudimentary doctrine, or at least the notion that Jesus was the Christ would become known in most of the world, while the "higher doctrines" were almost intentionally lost? In other words, the "meat" would be lost while the whole world learned the "milk"?

What do you think?

[Jason]

I think the world was immesurably improved by the presence of even apostate Christianity.

[Cold Steel]

The Meridian of Time was not meant to launch the church into the world, but was intended as a time during which conditions would be right for the Messiah to be put to death. If one looks as Daniel, Chapter 2, one sees in the prophetic dream succeeding kingdoms to come forth. The first was Babylon, the second was the Medes and Persians, the third was Greece under Alexander the Great and then came Rome, the great kingdom of iron rule. The figure of a man was used to portray these kingdoms, and the kingdom of iron was split in twain, half going with Rome, the other going with Constantinople. These were represented by the two legs of iron. Then came the toes, part iron and part clay. These were the individual kingdoms throughout Europe that would arise, some strong and others weak. The tenth kingdom formed was Greece, in 1829.

Daniel revealed that it was to be in the times of these kings that the Kingdom of God would be established; that it would be a kingdom not left to other men, but would never be destroyed. This, of course, was fulfilled in 1830, when the church was restored to the Earth with a grand total of six members. Subsequently the keys of authority were meted out and temples restored and then the great coming of Elijah. The keys for the gathering of Israel were restored, beginning the return of the Jews to the land of their inheritance, and then Isaiah's prophecy fulfilled regarding the establishment of the mountain of the Lord's House in the tops of the mountains.

It's interesting that the apostasy happened in both the Old World and the New, but it's almost a necessity to have the tools we now have at our disposal to establish and further the Kingdom of God. We have the means of transportation, education, cleanliness, food, communications and law (freedom) that have greatly aided John's prophecy of the angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to the people on the Earth.

[robuchan]

On another thread, Katherine the Great said:

To which I said:

So then the question arises, WHY did Christ come in the meridian of time when the apostasy was all but inevitable?

Was it intended to happen this way, so that some rudimentary doctrine, or at least the notion that Jesus was the Christ would become known in most of the world, while the "higher doctrines" were almost intentionally lost? In other words, the "meat" would be lost while the whole world learned the "milk"?

What do you think?

I assume you mean "meat" as in the non-mainstream teachings Joseph Smith taught such as three degrees of glory, temple ordinances, celestial marriage/polygamy, deification.

My question is: why wouldn't any of these doctrines appear in the Book of Mormon?

[LifeOnaPlate]

I assume you mean "meat" as in the non-mainstream teachings Joseph Smith taught such as three degrees of glory, temple ordinances, celestial marriage/polygamy, deification.

My question is: why wouldn't any of these doctrines appear in the Book of Mormon?

Why should we expect them to? The Book of Mormon itself says we ought not expect to find everything within its covers, and I certainly don't expect such a thing.

[Avatar4321]

On another thread, Katherine the Great said:

To which I said:

So then the question arises, WHY did Christ come in the meridian of time when the apostasy was all but inevitable?

Was it intended to happen this way, so that some rudimentary doctrine, or at least the notion that Jesus was the Christ would become known in most of the world, while the "higher doctrines" were almost intentionally lost? In other words, the "meat" would be lost while the whole world learned the "milk"?

What do you think?

To atone and die for the sins of the world and begin the resurrection.

[robuchan]

Why should we expect them to? The Book of Mormon itself says we ought not expect to find everything within its covers, and I certainly don't expect such a thing.

Why would you not expect them to? I was always taught the plain and precious truths (three degrees of glory, deification, temple ordinances, God has body, Godhood is separate, etc) were taken out of the Bible, but upon further analysis they don't even exist in the BOM.

[jadams_4242]

On another thread, Katherine the Great said:

To which I said:

So then the question arises, WHY did Christ come in the meridian of time when the apostasy was all but inevitable?

Was it intended to happen this way, so that some rudimentary doctrine, or at least the notion that Jesus was the Christ would become known in most of the world, while the "higher doctrines" were almost intentionally lost? In other words, the "meat" would be lost while the whole world learned the "milk"?

What do you think?

James 1;5.

[LifeOnaPlate]

Why would you not expect them to? I was always taught the plain and precious truths (three degrees of glory, deification, temple ordinances, God has body, Godhood is separate, etc) were taken out of the Bible, but upon further analysis they don't even exist in the BOM.

Perhaps what constitutes the "plain and precious truths" to God (or to me, or to Nephi or Mormon or John Calvin or George Washington) may not measure up to your expectations?

[mfbukowski]

I assume you mean "meat" as in the non-mainstream teachings Joseph Smith taught such as three degrees of glory, temple ordinances, celestial marriage/polygamy, deification.

My question is: why wouldn't any of these doctrines appear in the Book of Mormon?

Well the short answer is: for the same reason they don't fully appear in the bible. Temple ordinances are not published anywhere with authorization.

[semlogo]

So then the question arises, WHY did Christ come in the meridian of time when the apostasy was all but inevitable?

Atonement.

/thread

[SilverKnight]

My question is: why wouldn't any of these doctrines appear in the Book of Mormon?

Because the BoM is supposed to be record of ancient indigenous people, historic contemporaries with ancient christians. Why would they have the final revelations of Joseph Smith like deification, temple, etc?

It is evidence for the BoM's ancient origins that the latest restoration doctrines do not appear in it.

[mfbukowski]

To atone and die for the sins of the world and begin the resurrection.

Good point.

But did this have to happen in the meridian of time, and what does it have to do with the apostasy?

[mfbukowski]

Atonement.

/thread

Couldn't he have atoned at the end of time -- certain Jews and certain Muslims are still waiting for the messiah. So why did He come in the meridian of time when there would be an apostasy?