What is the Great Apostasy?

[Ani_Ibi]

Any ideas out there? Thank you.

 

[janman55]

In very simple terms its the theory that soon after Our Lord founded His church it fell into error until the “Protestant Reformation”

 

[SyCarl]

In very simple terms its the theory that soon after Our Lord founded His church it fell into error until the “Protestant Reformation”

That is not what the great apostasy means, except I guess to Mormons. It means that in the end days there will be a great falling away from Christianity. It is based on passages like:

Now we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, that you not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God. 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4 (NASB)

and

But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron, men who forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from foods which God has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth. 1 Timothy 4:1-3 (NASB)