JD Abshire Supporter

According to Strong's concordance the Greek word for falling away is apostasia which is defined as: "falling away, defection, apostasy".

Vines Expository Dictionary gives the following

Fall, Fallen, Falling, Fell:
"a defection, revolt, apostasy," is used in the NT of religious apostasy; in Act 21:21, it is translated "to forsake," lit., "thou teachest apostasy from Moses." In 2Th 2:3 "the falling away" signifies apostasy from the faith. In papyri documents it is used politically of rebels. 

A wonderful tool for study is Blue Letter Bible. You can look up a word, partial phrase, scripture reference, etc. Not only will it give you the Hebrew or Greek word it also has a corresponding radio button when clicked will audibly pronounce the word. I highly recommend it!

http://www.blueletterbible.org/index.cfm

December 31 2013 • 2 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Jennifer Rothnie Supporter Housewife, Artist, Perpetually Curious

Apostasia (ἀποστασία) in II Thess 2:3 means apostasy, defection, or revolt. Most translations use 'apostasy' since it is a transliteration of the Greek term into English.

It is a noun derived from the preposition apó, "away from" and the verb histémi, "stand") – leading to its literal meaning of 'departure from a previous standing.'

Apostasy, then, is leaving something you were once a part of. Examples might be a soldier defecting from his army, a group of rebels revolting from the commands of their king, a scientist defecting from his nation to another, or a spouse abandoning a marriage.

In the context of II Thess 2:3, it is speaking of people departing from the faith - a moral apostasy, not a political one. It is similar to the warning of I Tim 4:1, where the Spirit explicitly says that in latter times, some will depart (apostatize) from the faith; and to the warning of Heb 3:12, where the author asks his listeners to examine themselves to be sure that none of them have a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away (apostatizes) from the living God.

https://ebible.com/questions/16424-what-does-it-mean-in-1-tim-4-1-that-some-will-depart-from-faith-giving-heed-to-deceiving-spirits

II Thess 2:3 is specifically referring to a large rebellion, "the apostasy," that must take place before the return of Christ, with the implication of the passage being that the 'man of sin' will either head up this group of defectors from the faith or draw them to himself.

Over the centuries, there have been many guesses as to who this 'man of sin' is: Caligula, Titus, Simon Magus, Simon Bar Kohba, Nero, the Pope of Rome (a sequence of men, in that case), Luther, Mahomet, - even modern figures like former U.S. Presidents Obama and Trump. 

Some believe this man of sin was revealed in the past (hence, Jesus could return at any moment without further prophecies needing to be fulfilled); others that the revelation of the man of sin is still future; and still others believe that it could be either, that some historic figures fit the description, but there might be a future 'man of sin' who fits better.)

However, the term 'revealed' in the verse is apokaluptó, the same term as in the title of 'Revelation.' This strongly hints that this figure will be very public and not one that we have to guess about or wonder about - his actions will be very clear:

"He 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." II Thess 2:4

Yet despite this opposition to God and his clear sacrilege, many Christians will defect from Christ and flock to him! It will not just be unbelievers that flock to the 'signs and wonders' of this man, but many followers of Christ will defect as well, rejecting the truth and loving the lie instead. (II Thess 2:9-12)

April 21 2017 • 3 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

RICK PORTER Supporter Chaplain [ Truckers Chapel ]-- Undeserving Child of God

2 Thessalonians 2:3, is talking about a great Apostasy or Falling Away that will come as the Antichrist and the False Prophet infused by Satan and unrestrained, as the true church I believe the Rapture has taken, catching away. The true church goes up, the false unborn again are deceived and follow the False Prophet away or down.

James 2:14-26 talks about Dead Faith or professing people who have not the Fruit that is Salvation Fruit.

Jesus says even more direct about the virgins Matthew 25:1-13 He doesn' t know them even though they were virtuous and called Jesus Lord.

Then 1 JOHN 2:19 is the core reason for falling away: "They went out from us, but they were not of us". 

This is why Paul uses the Greek word "apostasia" in 2 Thessalonians 2:3. People not truly born again can and will be deceived into falling away.

July 29 2017 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Henry Klassen Supporter

What does the "falling away" mean in 2 Thessalonians 2:3? In my opinion, I can't fall away from someplace I have never been. For example, I can not fall off of a roof if I don't climb up onto the roof; I can't fall away from the Christian faith if I haven't been there. 

2 Thessalonians 2:2-3 KJV
[2] That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. [3] 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;

July 29 2017 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

dale dorsett Supporter

Falling away is leaving the path and going astray. Jesus talked about those telling Him about their good works and honoring God, even doing miracles, who were told, "Depart from me you worker of iniquity." "I never knew you" is pretty harsh until one understands that God never knew them, even though they knew about God. One can be saved in their mind, even moved by God in experiences, yet not be His. "You MUST BE BORN AGAIN" Jesus stated - not fleshly but spiritual. 

All the right things and great acts and whatever does not mean God knows you; but when a person repents of wrongdoing, sorrowful for displeasing God, accepts Jesus as the Son of God and Savior of mankind and Lord of all, and opens their spirit to God, then the Holy Spirit comes inside of them. The Holy Spirit cleans the corrupted spirit man, makes the person Heaven ready, seals the person's salvation, makes the person KNOWN to GOD through JESUS' RIGHTEOUSNESS, not their own, then the person is BORN AGAIN of SPIRIT.

The carnal fleshly mind is programmed by this world and is not born again. It wars against the real person's eternal spirit's mind, which is in communion with God.The growth of a Christian is based on reading the Bible and letting the AUTHOR teach what the Bible means. The AUTHOR is the HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD. Salvation is based on the Holy Spirit being received though the works and completed GIFT of Jesus Salvation - all man's works apart from God are dead works and worse - filthy rags to God- an offense. Jesus did it all and our good works should stem from our relationship with God in appreciation of His love for us.

War goes on, though, until we leave this earth, but the weakest of Christian is the one who does not know or read the Bible and cultivate that intimacy with God - walking with God daily in His Garden.

Thus, Satan/Lucifer and his clan work continually to separate us from God even after salvation. God's commitment after salvation is, "I will never leave nor forsake you." God does not want to let go of us. However, if a person is ignorant of His Word and believes the lies of the devil in this world, the person can separate himself/herself from God to the point that good becomes evil and evil becomes good. God becomes evil and Lucifer/Satan good. The battle is lost when the person rejects the Holy Spirit. To that person God is the bad dude and Lucifer/Satan is their savior. Reprobate mind!

I have always told people that God saves people no matter what evils they have done if they repent and accept Him as Savior. Paul is a good example, killing Christians as heretics until meeting Jesus. No matter the struggles to overcome sins as a Christian, one is still saved as long as the Holy Spirit can convict them and deal with them and they want forgiveness. This is not a license to sin - that person plays with salvation like a bargaining chip and is operating in Satan's territory. A Christian should never want to get further from God, as often religion does, adding to or taking away from the Bible, but to love and grow closer to God. Satan uses our sins and faults to make us feel that we went too far or can not do better. Satan was a liar from the beginning. We sin we should not want to but run to God for forgiveness and if we forgive others as God forgives us (forgiving 70x7 times in a day- really not counting just symbolical of without end) then God will forgive us and we will not be accountable for that sin covered by Jesus' blood and sacrifice.

The key is DON'T PLAY CHURCH--BE IT. Don't believe you are saved and can do anything you want without accountability. SIMPLY love God as He loves you and want to please Him - not impress with your works. Good works are born out of love not demand, least of all ego but humility.

August 05 2017 • 1 response • Vote Up • Share • Report