The 'Falling Away' of 2 Thessalonians 2:3

Does the "falling away" refer to the pre-tribulation rapture, or to those who will fall away from the faith?

TRANSCRIPT: This is just a very short video on a subject I may not have specifically covered before, and I thought I'd take a minute to get that out of the way. That subject is whether the “falling away” mentioned in 2 Thessalonians 2:3 refers to the rapture.

Here's the verse that we're talking about: “Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;”

This verse came up earlier today in a comment on an older video of mine. The comment stated: “The falling away of the Church is when Christ comes for His Bride/The Church. The Church will be separated from the Earth, then the Antichrist is revealed.”

As I was writing a response to this comment a few minutes ago it occurred to me that I probably never addressed this particular verse - as far as I remember, anyway. Or, if I did, perhaps I didn't explain it too clearly. So let's get right to this.

Here's the response I wrote to the brother who left the comment:

Brother, please note that 2 Thessalonians 2:3 reads: "Let no man deceive you by any means: for THAT DAY shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;”

The words THAT DAY refer to the subject being discussed in the previous verses. The subject is the "coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him".

How could the "falling away" mean when Christ comes for his bride, when the "falling away" is to happen BEFORE Christ comes for his bride? It would be as if Paul said "Let no man deceive you by any means, for Jesus won't return until Jesus first returns."

Hopefully my reply didn't come across as mocking his comment, because I certainly didn't mean it that way. I intended it as being more instructive, because this IS a verse that a lot of people get wrong.

As most of us probably know, it's one of those go-to verses for those who say we CAN'T know who the Antichrist is because the church will be raptured away before he is revealed. But, again, that's not what's being said here.

So, let's make this as clear as possible:

1) The subject of the first verse of 2 Thessalonians, chapter 2, is the “coming of our Lord Jesus and our gathering together unto him.” That's what's being discussed, and it's what verse 3 refers to as “that day.”
2) Following up on verse one, verse two seeks to reassure the church of the Thessalonians that the return of Jesus wasn't about to happen at any moment.
3) Verse three explains WHY “that day” wasn't at hand, and it's because something must happen first: the “falling away” and the man of sin is revealed.

Whatever the falling away is, it must happen BEFORE the return of Jesus and our gathering together unto him.

It can NOT mean the rapture because that would make the entire passage redundant in the most ridiculous way: It would be saying “the return of Jesus won't happen until the return of Jesus!” We can be sure that the bible is NOT saying that.

Instead of referring to the rapture of the church, the falling away mentioned in verse 3 is talking about a falling away from the faith, a topic that is discussed in numerous passages. In the last days, many will fall away from the faith.

And it's this falling away that actually reveals the Man of Sin. Those who fall away FROM the faith will fall TOWARD the Antichrist. These two things go hand in hand, and it's what helps us to identify the Man of Sin.

This is, of course, exactly what we've seen over the past 6 or 7 years, as millions upon millions of Christians have left the teachings of Jesus behind and gravitated more and more toward someone who is TRULY a man of sin.

Let no man deceive you by any means: the Antichrist … is Donald J. Trump.

I'll be back tomorrow with another video, and that video will deal with whether the Red Horse of Revelation 6 is now on the scene, and if the rider of that Red Horse could be Vladimir Putin.

Thanks for watching, and if you care to leave a comment, please do. As always, kindly be respectful in any comment you leave, especially toward those with whom you disagree. I'll talk to you guys soon. ♦

[jot]

I sure could use prayer brothers and sisters I have been in bed all week with no energy and migraines. If you need prayer let me know. ♡

[Antichrist]

*This video has upset many* as evidenced by some of the remarks left. I can't stress this enough: what we believe about the timing of the rapture is NOT a salvation issue, and efforts to make it one are truly misplaced. Once again, please be respectful in your comments, *especially* toward those with whom you disagree. God bless you.

[oldschoolmuscle]

"And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened." (Matthew 24:22). 😔🙏

[freyafrost]

It’s a shame this even needs to be addressed, but as of the early 2000s, it’s been incorrectly interpreted as the rapture. In the past, it had always been interpreted as a falling away from faith, apostasy, rebellion against biblical truth. Thank you for mentioning it as many are confused about this verse.

[KMarr]

Yes, defiantly there will be a falling away in faith as they follow Trump believing he's a man of God, but I'm hoping many will fall to their knee's and repent, see the truth and be saved after he shows his true self. The rapture has never been on the table for me, it just doesn't make sense.

[JesusisTheKing]

Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
Revelation 3:10

He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
Revelation 22:20

Maranatha, Come Lord Jesus.

[drkcircuitrider]

Once again my wise brother, dispatched with clarity and respect for those that have been thus far misled. Love your work. DK

[jslevenson]

People turn away from all good things, light, love, forgiveness, compromise, Jesus and truth.

[Antichrist]

*Thank you for your comments and insights* - If your comment isn't showing up, try sorting by “Newest first” as that often makes more comments appear. If you enjoyed the video, please give a thumbs-up as that helps my channel with YouTube's algorithms. Don't forget to also subscribe and click on the notification bell, if you haven't done so already. :-)

[JoseDiaz-rdfh]

Many before have tried and failed to predict who the Antichrist is. Having an authentic walk with Christ and staying focused on him is far more important. Living ready to meet the Lord and never putting too much emphasis on any one person.

[brother_dana]

I believe you're in error on your point #1, which is what causes you to think that the falling away=rapture argument creates a nonsensical/redundant statement. Those who believe falling away=rapture think (correctly, IMO) that verse 3 refers back to verse 2, not to verse 1. If you're going to tackle this issue, at least don't mischaracterize the opposing argument. So, what is being said here is: that day - The Day of the Lord (Kyriou*) - shall not come unless The Departing (the rapture) comes first, and the man of sin be revealed. It is completely logical.

The first 7 English translations of the Bible render 'hee apostasia' as 'the departing'. For some strange reason, the KJV decided to render it as 'a falling away', and other translations instead invented - by transliteration - a new word (apostasy) here.

Your point #2 is also wrong. It wasn't to "reassure the church that the return of Jesus was about to happen at any moment". It was to reassure them that the Day of the Lord (the Tribulation period) couldn't be here now because such and such hasn't happened first. (Because they'd received some letters telling them they were now in the Tribulation.)

*Note that the KJV incorrectly translates 2 Thess 2:2 as the Day of Christ (Christou), which is a totally different idiom from the Day of the Lord (Kyriou), the correct translation. The Day of the Lord (Kyriou) is an idiom used in the OT&NT, which always refers to judgement & wrath. The Day of Christ (Christou) is an idiom exclusive to the NT, and is always presented in a happy & glorious light.

Day of the Lord = Tribulation period
Day of Christ = Rapture

[FrankFriedrich-lcie]

That was a very good response and the bible says it so clear, thanks

[Antichrist]

@John Mathis - Brother, thank you for your comment responding to the brother who was hateful and judgmental of others. I decided to block him as those are not the type of comments I want on my channel. Since your comment disappeared also, I just wanted to give you a heads up. God bless you.

[nickboles]

In my humble opinion it's either a rebellion against God's sovereignty and those He has allowed to rule the nations and done so as to appear righteous in manner or some kind of false revelation in conjunction with interdimentional beings. God bless in Jesus' Righteous and Holy name.

[darrellblanchard]

No way the day of the Lord and our gathering to him will not come unless there comes a falling away first AND the man of sin be revealed.
Gather first the tares first not the wheat first.
Just believe what the Bible says not what religion says it says.

[seviregis]

I sense my comments may irk you at times, I know how the church feels women shouldn’t speak, etc..., but I must faithfully share because time is short. I have transcended my gender in my eunuch status, thus I am in submission to Christ alone. I totally agree with your position here. It surely appears that “the falling away” has come, because it is directly connected to “the grand delusion”. The Dumpsters replaced the Lord with the “man of sin.” If that isn’t a falling away, then what is?!

[markmccay]

I believe the word is Apostasy, with can be defined as rebellion as a lot of the early manuscripts interpret. But rebellion from what is not clear. It’s interesting that for the first time to my knowledge we are seeing a world wide rebellion against tyranny. Just a thought .

[ivettehuertas]

Falling away is an English interpretation, the early scriptures says the Departure, , , besides the text does not talk about faith at all

[lovely__asmr]

Good topic - yep, we are seeing more and more of this theory preached.

Which, if you think about it - proves Paul's point regarding the lies and delusions in the latter days.

Paul is telling us the man of sin is front and center in the latter days - right in front of everyone - and this great apostasy is centered around and it's exactly what we've witnessed.

He says it happens first, which tells us the man of sin isn't hiding somewhere in Europe until his time to be revealed - crowned.

Nope - he's out in the open gas-lighting, fear mongering, and filling Christians with conspiracy theories for several years before he's crowned.

Paul tells us exactly how it happens. It's not an apostasy because of trials or persecution as so many preach - Christians are not the victims via pain and suffering in this case. Paul says It's the third form of apostasy: deception - lies and delusions. It's the sinister version of apostasy.

He called it "great" for a reason. He's telling us the majority of believers will be led astray by the man of sin.

He says he will fool many and by "many" he was referring to two religous groups - not the world.

Why would Satan care about fooling those who are already fooled: pagans, atheists, non-believers?

One group he'll fool into crowning his son as messiah - the other he'll get to fall in love with him and support his rise to power.

John's harlot - and their love for him will be so strong, it's described as a delusional cult.

His rise will start out with the same religous leadership Jesus spoke to, and they'll study his genealogy to determine if he linked to David - many of them already believing he could be messiah-Ben-Joseph. Jesus warned they would choose someone who would come in his own name.

His rise to power will include dozens of false Christian prophets who will declare he's been anointed by God for such a time as this, God has placed him on a throne in heaven, handed him a gold sceptor, and placed a gold crown on his head, even his birth date was chosen by God.... all of that happened. Stuff they should attribute to the real messiah.

Popular and mainstream Christian leaders will declare on live TV interviews, if you don't vote for him, your not saved - a pastor who gave a sermon +30- years ago that when the man of sin shows up, he'll fool the majority of Christians into following him.

Daniel tells us the world is not fooled by the final conman - is not given the honor of the kingdom. Maybe because Daniel described him as vile and contemptuous, a narcissist (makes himself great in his own mind).

Again - great topic!

[jeffreydavis]

I could not have said it better myself. ( Cut and dry ) Truth !