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Answer
Paul wrote 2 Thessalonians, in part, to provide a clarification on eschatology after some of his readers misunderstood that the day of the Lord was already upon them (2 Thessalonians 2:1-2). Part of this clarification includes a statement that many have interpreted as predicting a significant rebellion before Christ’s return. Second Thessalonians 2:3 says: “Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition” (NKJV).
In his initial letter to the Thessalonians, Paul praised the believers for their faith, hope, and love (2 Thessalonians 1:2-3) and urged them to excel even more. «Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more. », (1 Thessalonians 4:1,10) «And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more; », (1 Thessalonians 4:1,10). One area in which Paul encouraged them to grow was in their hope. To aid in this, Paul taught them about the resurrection that will take place when the Lord meets believers in the clouds and the dead in Christ are raised (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17). This event, commonly known as the rapture, enables believers to grieve in a manner consistent with their hope.
Following the rapture, Paul explains, the day of the Lord will arrive.Will be a time of great difficulty for those who remain on earth in those days (1 Thessalonians 5:2-3). Paul explains that that day would not overtake believers «But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. », (1 Thessalonians 5:4), and that God has not destined believers for wrath «For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, », (1 Thessalonians 5:9). However, because of the shortness of the time, the Thessalonians needed to make the most of their opportunity, being awake and sober (1 Thessalonians 5:6-8).
It is evident that the Thessalonians misunderstood the timing of the day of the Lord, as some thought that the day of the Lord had come upon them (2 Thessalonians 2:1-2). Paul explains that the day of the Lord had not yet come and that it would not come until some things happened first. One of those events preceding the day of the Lord would be the revealing of the man of lawlessness «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; », (2 Thessalonians 2:3). Also, Paul says, the “falling away” or “apostasy” (NASB) would come before the day of the Lord. Many have understood from this statement that before Christ returns many people will reject the faith and rebel against God.
Paul uses the Greek word apostasia in 2 Thessalonians 2:3, so “apostasy” is a good, literal transla
tion. The Greek word means “to be apart from or to stand apart from.” Paul uses the same word in 1 Timothy 4 when he explains that in the last days people will stand apart from (or fall away from) the faith and follow various kinds of falsehood (1 Timothy 4:1-3). So, there will be a standing apart from the faith or a great falling away before Christ returns. Wickedness will grow worse and worse «But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. », (2 Timothy 3:13). This might be what Paul is referring to in 2 Thessalonians 2:3. On the other hand, Paul could be referring to the departure of the church (the rapture). Paul reiterates that the apostasia would come before the day of the Lord, and he could be referencing the church standing apart from or departing before the judgment falls.
In 1 Thessalonians 4, Paul had described the event of the church’s meeting Christ in the clouds; then Paul explained that the day of the Lord would come upon those slated for destruction (“them”) but not upon believers «For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. », (1 Thessalonians 5:3), because believers were not destined for wrath «For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, », (1 Thessalonians 5:9). Then in 2 Thessalonians, he says a standing apart or away from will take place before the day of the Lord «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; », (2 Thessalonians 2:3). Some commentators believe that the “falling away” is merely a “departure” of the church from the world.
The semantic scope of the term apostasia can encompass either form of departure: doctrinal or physical. The significant falling away prior to Christ’s return could indicate the evil of humanity or the physical relocation of believers before the day of the Lord.
