Again, we must ask the question—why are there so many different Christian churches today that have such a wide variety of beliefs regarding the teachings and doctrines of Christ?  Why do some churches believe one thing, and others believe something else?  Why do they differ so much in their interpretations of the same scriptural verses?  It’s because the founder of each denomination believed something different than the other churches that were already in existence.  Although they all used basically the same Bible, they each had their own views, their own opinions and interpretations of the Bible, and they each sought after God in their own way—to worship Him “as they pleased.”  This was the very reason why many of our forefathers came to America in the first place—so they could worship God in THEIR OWN WAY and not be forced to adopt whatever religion the king happened to be practicing at the time.

Because they worshiped according to the dictates of their own hearts, many broke off from the churches that were in existence, and started new ones.  And in the process, they were able to convince others to believe as they did, thereby leading many away to draw disciples unto themselves.  If you think about it, most of the existing Christian denominations were (at one time or another) apostates because they broke off from another church, or were started by someone who protested the teachings of the churches that were in existence.  That’s why they were called Protestants; they protested the teachings of, and broke off from the Roman Catholic Church.  Instead of forming one church that taught all the same doctrines, that was of the same mind and spirit with sound doctrine; one in faith, baptism, doctrines and ordinances, and works; there were many different churches formed, each with their own beliefs and interpretations of the scriptures.  Doesn't this sound like the prophecy that refers to us as ". . . children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine" (Ephesians 4:14)?

I use a Christian curriculum in homeschooling my kids, and in the 7th grade history book, in studying the Dark and Middle Ages, and the Reformation Movement, I can't understand why more Christians today cannot see or accept the circumstances in which the Bible was compiled.  Even in this history book they mention how one of the most important characteristics of the Middle Ages was the distortion of Christianity and the many errors of the Roman Church; yet they accept a book of scriptures that had been argued and debated over, rewritten, with things added and taken away as these men voted on what was acceptable and what wasn't, and was compiled under the very circumstances that the apostles warned against; and they still consider it to be the pure word of God.

Christianity did indeed spread throughout the world, but with so many different denominations worshiping as THEY chose to worship, according to what they believed; Christ’s original laws, commandments, doctrines, and ordinances became so adulterated by all the changes that they were no longer in their pure, original form as Christ had originally established them.  These changes are obvious when we study the history of Christianity.  Christians today do not like to hear this because IF it is true, then it would mean that they have been wrong all along.  Just like the Jews who originally had the pure teachings of the prophets, but later erred in their understanding of the scriptures because they started following the "traditions" of their fathers, and rejected Christ when he came with higher laws; it is now the Gentiles who are following the "traditions" of their forefathers (the changes made in Christianity back in those early centuries of Rome) and reject the truths that have been restored back to the earth (another example of the first shall be last and the last shall be first).

If the power and authority of God, and the keys of the kingdom to bind and seal all things on earth and in heaven, were taken from the world because of the wickedness of men, then they could NOT be brought back through a reformation of the chaos that existed when men made changes to the doctrines and ordinances.  Reformation means to take something that already exists and improve it or make it better.  Men no longer had the power and authority of God because they argued and debated over His doctrines, and fell away from the pure truths; so what was lost to the world would have to be restored or brought back by someone who had that power and authority.  In other words, it would have to come directly from heaven just as it did in the ancient times.  This too, was prophesied in the Bible because the Lord knew this great apostasy would occur. 

To restore something is to bring it back into existence; to bring back to a former, original, or normal condition.  Restitution means pretty much the same thing: it's the restoration of property rights (or teachings, doctrines, and ordinances in this case) previously taken away, conveyed, or surrendered.  It is the restoration to the former or original state or position.  This is why the Reformation Movement back in the sixteenth century could not work in the eyes of God; they had lost the power and authority, they were left without the Holy Ghost because of their iniquity; they argued and debated over the doctrines because they could not understand them because they were without the Spirit of God; and were left unto themselves.  These were the very things the apostles warned the saints NOT to do, and had prophesied of the downfall of the church and of this great apostasy! If we look throughout the Old and New Testaments we can find that this cycle has been repeated several times throughout the history of mankind. When they obey God's laws and commandments they are blessed, when they disobey they are chastised, warned, and in some cases, God turns His head and leaves them to themselves.  When they hit bottom, they repent and start keeping the laws and commandments, and are blessed once again.  It's a constant up and down cycle that keeps repeating itself.

We cannot take something that was perfect to begin with (when it was first established for us by Christ) and change it to make it better!  Better in whose eyes?  Certainly not God's for He established them in their perfect form when Christ set up and organized His church.  When you have something perfect from God to begin with there IS NO making it better unless it's to please men rather than God.  And that is exactly what happened.  Instead of religion being the following of and obedience to the laws, commandments, doctrines, and ordinances that God Himself had established for us; religion is now something that we can pick and choose from according to whatever we desire, like deciding what to choose from a menu in order to satisfy our own taste palette.  We choose what we want to believe, such as we are saved by belief and that our works don't matter, even when it goes against the majority of everything else that Christ and his apostles have ever taught.  It never occurs to us that maybe in those passages there may be more than what we are actually seeing with our physical eyes.  Christ does not contradict himself, especially when one thing seems to be out of context with everything else he taught.  It's all right there in the Bible, but the vast majority of Christians just love to cling to that one idea because they can physically see it and it sounds good to them.  But, how easy is that?  Too easy; the broad and easy path that will eventually lead to destruction if we insist on clinging to it.  The devil has really deceived the minds of men with his cunningness throughout the ages.  We cannot base things on a few individual verses and completely ignore everything else that was said in the majority of his teachings.