• Starting today August 7th, 2024, in order to post in the Married Couples, Courting Couples, or Singles forums, you will not be allowed to post if you have your Marital status designated as private. Announcements will be made in the respective forums as well but please note that if yours is currently listed as Private, you will need to submit a ticket in the Support Area to have yours changed.

What does "except there come a falling away first" in 2 Thess. 2:3 mean?

jgr

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
Feb 25, 2008
9,692
5,020
✟843,047.00
Country
Canada
Gender
Male
Faith
Non-Denom
Marital Status
Married
Go persuade the Reformers, the Greeks, the NASB translators at the Lockman Foundation, and every other English Bible translator in existence. Then we can talk.
 
Upvote 0

2Timothy2:15

Well-Known Member
Mar 28, 2016
2,226
1,227
CA
✟78,248.00
Gender
Male
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Married
The KJV English phrase "falling away", in 2 Thess. 2:3, is the one Greek word "apostasia", and its basic meaning is to "depart from" or "go away".

It does not mean to go away, that is not included in any definition. It means to "depart" from sound doctrine.

apostasia: defection, revolt
Original Word: ἀποστασία, ας, ἡ
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: apostasia
Phonetic Spelling: (ap-os-tas-ee'-ah)
Short Definition: defection, apostasy
Definition: defection, apostasy, revolt.
HELPS Word-studies
646 apostasía (from 868 /aphístēmi, "leave, depart," which is derived from 575 /apó, "away from" and 2476 /histémi, "stand") – properly, departure (implying desertion); apostasy – literally, "a leaving, from a previous standing."
 
Reactions: jgr
Upvote 0

Instrument150

Active Member
Aug 6, 2017
339
160
38
Pensacola
✟29,208.00
Country
United States
Faith
Messianic
Marital Status
Widowed


I feel like it refers to the Dark Ages of history, when the lights went out on the Original conversion of Rome after many conquests, and paganism was introduced as a subtle trick. The greek religions from which they came demanded lavish items that represented artistic expressions of their gods. The people still loved these statues. They were reintroduced and renamed.

It wasn't until those ( 12? ) scholars were sent off to a HIDDEN DUNGEON to protect them from warring pharisees to translate the King James Bible that we have today. That's really why I love it so much, because of the measure that had to be taken to get it done. Today it's easy to just sit down and translate something into a modern dialect and just say, alright here go, let's get some money from'yins
 
Upvote 0

toLiJC

Senior Member
Jun 18, 2012
3,041
227
✟35,877.00
Gender
Male
Faith
Non-Denom
Marital Status
Private

there is no difference between "departure" and "falling away", because the matter at hand in 2 Thessalonians 2:3 is the Fall(original sin) i.e. betrayal of God, to be more precise, replacement of the true God with another (which is the cause of the Fall) - it is spiritual lawlessness/wickedness

Blessings
 
Upvote 0

Alithis

Disciple of Jesus .
Nov 11, 2010
15,750
2,180
Mobile
✟109,492.00
Country
New Zealand
Gender
Male
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Married
I believe the KJV phrase "falling away", in 2 Thess. 2:3, refers to the "departure", or "Rapture" of the Church.

I read this and I just cringe...
I mean ....
Ugh.
Good grief .
 
Reactions: jgr
Upvote 0

Quasar92

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
Aug 7, 2016
3,762
1,943
101
Lexington, KY 40517
Visit site
✟355,074.00
Gender
Male
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Single
Q,

You're so full of copy and paste it's obvious you let others do your thinking for you.


FYI, what I cut and paste comes from the data bank of Christian material I have compiled over the past 20 years at my website. Most of which comes from my own composition. In addition to that, I began my studies of the Bible 80 years ago abd earned my qualifications to teach the Bible in between serving in the USAAF Air Corp during WWII. Two years of which was in the Pacific/Asiatic theater.

And by what authority do you assume the right to be judging and denigrating me with your meaningless opinion. Having been a participant on Christian discussion forums for nearly 20 years, it is a common practice for those who are unable to field Scripturally based support for their views, to start attacking their opponent personally, just as you are doing.

As such, if you are unable to contribute to the subject of the thread, then stay out of the kitchen, where it gets too hot for you to handle.


Quasar92
 
Upvote 0

Douggg

anytime rapture, non-dispensationalist, futurist
May 28, 2009
29,935
3,557
Non-dispensationalist
✟411,896.00
Country
United States
Faith
Non-Denom
Marital Status
Private
In addition to that, I began my studies of the Bible 80 years ago
For that reason, I must call you "sir"......... but Q, I don't think you have it right of the falling away as being the rapture. In Hebrews 6:4-6, it has falling away there as well, but it is obviously not referring to the rapture.

imo, the rapture is in 2thessalonians2, but it is not the falling away. It is the he being taken out of the way, before the person commits the transgression of desolation act in 2thessalonians2:4, in verses 2:7 and 2:8

7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.

8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:

The body of Christ taken away, as we are not appointed to that time of wrath when the Day of the Lord begins - following the person going into the temple sitting claiming to be God.

Q, the criteria is before the person commits the act, revealing himself as the man of sin, not before the falling away that will precede that act.

However, that does not exclude a pre-trib rapture. The rapture could happen pre-70th week (pre-trib commonly called), but not necessarily. The rapture can take place any time - between now and when it actually happens.
.
 
Last edited:
Upvote 0

Quasar92

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
Aug 7, 2016
3,762
1,943
101
Lexington, KY 40517
Visit site
✟355,074.00
Gender
Male
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Single
Go persuade the Reformers, the Greeks, the NASB translators at the Lockman Foundation, and every other English Bible translator in existence. Then we can talk.


The Scriptures, the context of that passage of Scripture and the historic translation of it, provided for you many times over - all refute you. I can also prove you to be in error by going to all of those you have invited me to do so. No matter how long and hard you try to alter the meaning of 2 Thess.2:1-8 from Paul's reference to it as a rapture of the Church, to a falling away of it, will never happen. Only to those of you who refuse to admit the teachings of Jesus, Matthew, Luke, John and Paul about the coming pre-trib rapture of the Churc, calling them all liars.


Quasar92
 
Upvote 0

Quasar92

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
Aug 7, 2016
3,762
1,943
101
Lexington, KY 40517
Visit site
✟355,074.00
Gender
Male
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Single


Doug, you and others are not paying attention to the historic translation record of 2 Thess.2:3. Because very few of you are even aware of it. Paul was teaching the Thrssalonians about the rapture of the Church, in both his epistles; in 1 Thess.4:13-18 and in 2 Thess.2:1-8. None of which has a single thing to do with the Church "falling away." Review the following to see how DEPARTURE in verse three, harmonizes with "TAKEN OUT OF THE WAY," in verse 7 below:

>>>2 Thess.2:1-8: The precise timing of the rapture of the Church:

"Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to Him, we ask you, brothers, not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter supposed to have come from us, saying that the Day of the Lord [The 70th and final Week/seven year tribulation of Dan.9:27] has already come." 2 Thes.2:1-2. Which is a direct reference to 1 Thes.4:17 and the theme of Paul's entire pre-trib rapture message in 2 Thes.2:1-8. When we will be CAUGHT UP TOGETHER WITH THEM IN THE CLOUDS TO MEET THE LORD IN THE AIR. [Parenthetics mine].

The "Day of the Lord" Paul refers to in vs 2, alludes to Dan.9:27, when God will intervene into the affairs of man for the last time, culminating in the second coming of Jesus to the earth. In that passage of Scripture, the Day of the Lord is triggered by the "he" who "confirms a covenant [An agreement] for one Week" [The Day of the Lord/ 70th and final Week/seven year tribulation], who is the antichrist. The second, and same "he," who stops Israel from the offerings and sacrificing in the temple of God, and the third, and same "he," who breaks his covenant in the middle of the Week [After 3.5 of the 7 year total], and sets up the abomination of desolation Jesus referred to in Mt.24:15, in His Olivet Discourse, about the sign of His second coming, and of the end of the age.

In vs 3: "Don't let anyone deceive you in any way, for that Day [The Day of the Lord, the 70th and final Week, the seven year tribulation] will not come, until the "apostasia" [Greek term in which the original translation was "to depart," or "departure," meaning, the rapture of the Church] occurs and the man of lawlessness [The antichrist, and all three of the "he's" in Dan.9:27] is revealed [Who triggers the Day of the Lord/ the 70th and final Week/ the seven year tribulation], the man doomed to destruction." Which reveals the "apostasia" [Departure] will take place before the antichrist is revealed, who triggers the 70th Week/seven year tribulation. Confirmed in verses 7 and 8 below.

Translation History of apostasia and discessio: By Thomas Ice, PhD.
The first seven English translations of apostasia all rendered the noun as either " departure" or " departing." They are as follows: Wycliffe Bible (1384); Tyndale Bible (1526); Coverdale Bible (1535); Cranmer Bible (1539); Breeches Bible (1576); Beza Bible (1583); Geneva Bible (1608) . This supports the notion that the word truly means " departure." In fact, Jerome' s Latin translation known as the Vulgate from around the time of 325 A.D. renders apostasia with the " word discessio, meaning ' departure.' Why was the King James Version the first to depart from the established translation of "departure" in 1611 A.D.? [It is more than likely due to overzealous RCC scribes who altered the original wording of vs 3. to accommodate their teachings of Amillenialism, which rejects both the pre-trib rapture of the Church as well as Jesus Millennial reign her on earth].

Theodore Beza, the Swiss reformer was the first to transliterate apostasia and create a new word, rather than translate it as others had done. The translators of the King James Version were the first to introduce the new rendering of apostasia as " falling away." Most English translators have followed the KJV and Beza in departing from translating apostasia as " departure." No reason was ever given.

"He [The antichrist] will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God's temple, proclaiming himself to be God." Vs 4. [The abomination of desolation, confirming Dan.9:27 and Mt.24:15]. See also 2 Thes.2:4.

The rapture of the Church and verse 3 confirmed:
In vs 7: "For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so until he [The saints - Church] is taken out of the way."

The "he" who will be taken out of the way, is the one body of Christ, who bear the Holy Spirit within each of us [Eph.1:13-14], the Church of Jesus Christ. The very same as those who will participate in the "apostasia," the "departure," [the rapture] of the Church, in vs 3. Immediately following that:

In vs 8: "And then the lawless one [The antichrist] will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of His mouth and destroy by the splendor of His coming." Vs 8. [See Rev.19:17-21].

The antichrist is found in all three of the "he's" in Dan. 9:27, confirmed by Jesus in Mt.24:15; Mk.13:14 and by Paul, in 2 Thes.2:3, 4 and 8.<<<


Quasar92
 
Upvote 0

Quasar92

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
Aug 7, 2016
3,762
1,943
101
Lexington, KY 40517
Visit site
✟355,074.00
Gender
Male
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Single


Review my post #30.


Quasar92
 
Last edited:
Upvote 0

Douggg

anytime rapture, non-dispensationalist, futurist
May 28, 2009
29,935
3,557
Non-dispensationalist
✟411,896.00
Country
United States
Faith
Non-Denom
Marital Status
Private
Q, it is not the church falling away, you are mis-packagng it. It will a falling away by many in Christianity Falling away was happening in 1John, when John began talking about already being many "antichrists" - they were once part of us, John said.
 
Upvote 0

Quasar92

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
Aug 7, 2016
3,762
1,943
101
Lexington, KY 40517
Visit site
✟355,074.00
Gender
Male
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Single


Paul is referring to the Church.


Quasar92
 
Upvote 0

Quasar92

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
Aug 7, 2016
3,762
1,943
101
Lexington, KY 40517
Visit site
✟355,074.00
Gender
Male
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Single


Review my post #30. Paul is referring to the Church.


Quasar92
 
Upvote 0

Douggg

anytime rapture, non-dispensationalist, futurist
May 28, 2009
29,935
3,557
Non-dispensationalist
✟411,896.00
Country
United States
Faith
Non-Denom
Marital Status
Private
The Day of the Lord does not begin at the start of the seventieth week, but somewhere in the middle of it. And there is no 7 year tribulation term in the bible. Reference to the great tribulation is in Matthew 24 and Revelation 7.

Q, the any time rapture view, based on Luke 21:34-36, allows for a pre-trib rapture, but is not locked in to the rapture must happen before the 70th week begins. The problem with the pre-trib, post-trib views is they both say the rapture can't happen except as their view holds.

In 2thessalonias2, Paul was addressing primarily the concern that the Thessalonians had the Day of the Lord had begun. You won't find anything in the text referring to the 70th week. I agree though that in verse 1, Paul was referring to the Rapture. Which to me is in verse 7 and 8, and not the falling away verse 3.

The problem is Q is your trying to weave the 70th week being into the text as being the Day of the Lord to make it pre-trib (pre-70th week), but it is just not there. The Day of the Lord starts in the middle part of the 70th week.
 
Last edited:
Upvote 0

Douggg

anytime rapture, non-dispensationalist, futurist
May 28, 2009
29,935
3,557
Non-dispensationalist
✟411,896.00
Country
United States
Faith
Non-Denom
Marital Status
Private
Paul is referring to the Church.


Quasar92
The church is not going to fall away from believing in Jesus. It is persons within Christianity, that will fall away. Both John and the writer of Hebrews addressed there being a falling away of some persons.

The implication is that the falling away will be of such large magnitude, it will be something overwhelmingly observable.... and connected to the person who reveals himself as the man of sin. Something the Thessalonians hadn't observed in their day
 
Reactions: Erik Nelson
Upvote 0

Douggg

anytime rapture, non-dispensationalist, futurist
May 28, 2009
29,935
3,557
Non-dispensationalist
✟411,896.00
Country
United States
Faith
Non-Denom
Marital Status
Private
Q, when the person confirms the covenant with many in Daniel 9:27, he will not be in the role of the revealed man of sin at that time.... because that act which reveals him is going into the temple and claims to be God.

When the person confirms the covenant for 7 years, he will be thought to be the messiah - not the man of sin -
 
Upvote 0

Erik Nelson

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
Aug 6, 2017
5,156
1,663
Utah
✟382,550.00
Country
United States
Gender
Male
Faith
Non-Denom
Marital Status
Married
I currently understand that one should distinguish between the "[Second] Coming of Christ" event (Rev 19) and the "Coming of The LORD" (Rev 20).

Rapture, Resurrection unto Final Judgement at the Opening of the Book of Life before the Great White Throne (Rev 20) only occurs at the LORD's Arrival (Rev 20) after the Millennium (Rev 20:1-6) and End Times (Rev 20:7-9).

According to Scripture, human history is Fated to be "repetitive" with cycles of tribulation - to - triumph which are qualitatively similar. But while the "[Second] Coming of Christ" event (Rev 19) brings about a major political change upon planet earth, the "Coming of The LORD" event (Rev 20) brings about the end of earth time and a "new heaven & new earth". They thusly represent quite different quantitative scales of Heavenly influence in earth history.
 
Upvote 0

Quasar92

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
Aug 7, 2016
3,762
1,943
101
Lexington, KY 40517
Visit site
✟355,074.00
Gender
Male
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Single


The three "he's" in Dan.9:27 is the Antichrist, not Jesus. Jesus never made any seven year covenants. In addition, Dan..9:27 is prophecy, not history.


Quasar92
 
Upvote 0

Douggg

anytime rapture, non-dispensationalist, futurist
May 28, 2009
29,935
3,557
Non-dispensationalist
✟411,896.00
Country
United States
Faith
Non-Denom
Marital Status
Private
The three "he's" in Dan.9:27 is the Antichrist, not Jesus. Jesus never made any seven year covenants. In addition, Dan..9:27 is prophecy, not history.


Quasar92
No, not Jesus, but the person is not the revealed man of sin when he (as the Antichrist) confirms the covenant with many for 7 years. In the midst of the week, when he stops the daily sacrifice - that is when he is revealed as the man of sin - right?

The person is only the Antichrist while he is in the role of being the King of Israel (illegitimate).

Q, it is extremely important as to how we refer to the person.

1. starts off as the little horn (not yet the Antichrist)
2. becomes the prince who shall come, who is anointed
3. the king of Israel, making him the Antichrist
4. stops the daily sacrifice, does the 2thessalonians2:4 act, revealed as the man of sin. ends his time as the Antichrist, no longer the King of Israel, thought to be messiah.
5. becomes the beast of Revelation

______________________________________________________________

Q, I am going to annotate when the falling away of 2theesalonians2:3 is going to take place...


1. starts off as the little horn (not yet the Antichrist)
2. becomes the prince who shall come, who is anointed
3. the king of Israel, making him the Antichrist (the falling away takes place at this time, as many in Christianity will think the jews were right all along)
4. Oh no! Thought to be messiah stops the daily sacrifice, does the 2thessalonians2:4 act, revealed as the man of sin. Jews are mortified, ends his time as the Antichrist, no longer the King of Israel, thought to be messiah.
5. becomes the beast of Revelation
 
Last edited:
Upvote 0