Was the "Truth" Rediscovered?

INTRODUCTION

One of the arguments made by 2x2s regarding their origins is that they originated from the time of Jesus in successive remnant groups until the present day; much of the content on this site has to do with exposing the many fatal flaws in this theory. Realizing that this argument fails, they will often turn to another ploy, claiming that the apostolic "truth" died out (the term is "apostasy") until which time it was "rediscovered" by the first 2x2s in the late 19th Century. On closer examination, however, one quickly sees that this view also fails.

OLD TESTAMENT PROPHECY

Even in the Old Testament, the prophets predicted that Christ's kingdom would be continuous, perpetual, and unbroken in succession. Indeed, Isaiah said that Christ's government will have no end:

"His dominion is vast
and forever peaceful,
From David's throne and over his kingdom
which he confirms and sustains
By judgment and justice
both now and forever
The zeal of the Lord of Hosts will do this." (Isaiah 9:6)

This fact is supported in the Book of Daniel, where the infallible Word of God says that God's kingdom will stand forever and shall never be destroyed:

"In the lifetime of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed or delivered up to another people; rather, it shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and put an end to them, and it shall stand forever." (Dan 2:44)

"I decree that throughout my royal domain the God of Daniel is to be reverenced and feared: 'For he is the living God, enduring forever; his kingdom shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be without end." (Dan 6:27)

"He received dominion, glory, and kingship; nations and people of every language serve him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not be taken away, his kingship shall not be destroyed." (Dan 7:14)

Daniel confirms as correct Nebuchadnezzar's revelation that the smashing of the statue by the stone cut by no human hand is a sign of the end of the present age and the coming of an indestructible kingdom that the God of heaven was establishing. There were many instances in the Old Testament when priests and prophets were corrupt (Lam 4:13, Ezek 22:22-26, Seph 1:4, Micah 3:5), prophets had no vision and prophesied falsely (Lam 2:14, Jer 23:26-31), and even at times there were no prophets at all (Ps 74:9). However, not once is there ever a total apostasy, as we see in Amos 9:8-10:

"Behold, the eyes of the Lord God are upon the sinful kingdom, and I will destroy it from the surface of the ground; except that I will not utterly destroy the house of Jacob', says the Lord. For lo, I will command, and shake the house of Israel among all the nations as one shakes with a sieve, but no pebble shall fall upon the earth."

THE NEW TESTAMENT

The coming of Jesus Christ marks the beginning of His kingdom. Just as Daniel prophesied (Dan 7:13-14), Jesus confirmed that "and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age" (Mt 28:20).

In fact, Jesus promised Peter that the gates of hell would never prevail against His church (Mt 16:19), a sentiment repeated in Lk 1:33 "And of his kingdom there will be no end"

The fact that there has existed corruption within Christ's kingdom is frankly irrelevent. Even though Jesus berates the Pharisees, note that He still acknowledges that they "sit on Moses' seat" (Mt 23:2-3). This demonstrates that while individual sinfulness may exist their authority was still recognized and utilized by God (Jn 11). Like the wise man who built his house on the rock instead of the sand (Mt 7:24), Jesus allows the wheat and the weeds to grow together until the harvest (Mt 13:24-30).

Jesus promised the perpetual assistance of the Holy Spirit (Jn 14:16). This is why Paul wrote, "Now to him who is able to accomplish far more than all we ask or imagine, by the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to ALL generations forever and ever." (Eph 3:20-21).

Note that Paul says this the power at work within us is present for ALL generations, not to simply disappear until the 19th Century. The phrase "all generations" (in Greek pasas tas geneas) is very similar to the Matthew 28:20 passage "and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age". The phrase "with you always" (in Greek pasas tas hemaras) is literally translated as "all the days".

CONCLUSION

So, we see that God's people were promised a perpetual church (Mt 16:19) with divine guidance (Jn 16:13, Jn 14:16, Mt 28:20) for every generation (Eph 3:20-21). Nowhere does the Bible ever show that there was a total apostasy only to have the "truth" rediscovered by a worker.