They turned away from him as the disciples turned away from Christ at his arrest. And look how well the disciples turned out.
The false teachers were denying Christ as Lord and bringing in immorality. Yes these are false teachings and they were not long identified as remaining in the Church. Looks like the apostles and brothers of Christ had things well under control, teaching the second generation of believers how to handle false doctrines. Since that time the Church has been ferreting out false teachers and doctrines ever since.
Yes it does, the Church had been fending off false teachers and doctrines all that time and about 330 A.D. they rejected the false teaching and teachers of the Arians. Looks like the Church was doing what it was told by the apostles and Paul.
What picture does scripture give of how it was going for Asia, after Paul?
First, Paul called for and warned the Ephesian elders Acts 20:17,18,29,30, saying that he knows, that after his departing shall grievous wolves enter in among them, not sparing the flock. Also of their own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Notice it is not maybe, or your going to get it straightened out, he does not offer them that hope, instead it's certain, it's going to happen. If the elders go off into false doctrine, where does that leave the congregation? If the elders leave the way, that has a major impact on the church. This
seems to be the reason Paul is writing to Timothy, in fear Timothy my be swaying as well, and trying to encourage him.
So, did it all turn out rosy as you state for those in Asia, or did Paul know what he was talking about? Did they turn it around and get it right, after Pauls warning?
The answer to that is in Revelation ch.2, 3, to the seven churches in Asia. Does not sound so rosy to me, in fact sounds rather dire after only a short time. Depending on your dating of these letters 2 Timothy, and Revelation, could be between a few years to about 30 years. I do want to point this out though, doctrine of Balaam, and Jezebel, to eat things sacrificed to idols (nothing wrong with eating things sacrificed to idols, as long as it does not cause our brother to stumble). I would suggest turning to Jezebels table and see what she's serving in 1 Kings 18:19-21, to see what this is all about, for those that have understanding.
I absolutely will have to disagree, that the truth won out, from what scripture has to teach, both from N/T and O/T. Not to mention history itself.