A Falling Away ( Part One) Written about 1 year ago (May2007) by Aalie Are we seeing a falling away from the faith today? 2Thess. 2:1-3 talks about a falling away. This is mostly in reference to what Paul was talking to the Thessalonians in the first epistle to them. In the first book he was telling them that they were in danger of losing hope in the 2nd Coming. So in 2 Thess. Paul is correcting the opposite extreme - that Jesus had already come. Some of them thought Jesus had already come because of the tribulations they were experiencing. So Paul restores balance to the church by describing some of the major events that would precede the day of the Lord - in particular the falling away... and the revealing of the man of sin. Paul declares that the falling away must come first. In the Greek "falling away" commonly means a military rebellion. but in the Scriptures, the word is used of rebellion against God. So some had interpreted this verse to refer to a general defection from the truth during this time. This rebelious apostas would prepare the way for the Antichrist. Others translate the term as departure and understand it to be in reference to the Rapture. As far as the word itself is concerned, it could refer to a spiritual departure ( falling away) or it could refer to a physical departure ( the Rapture). Whichever way one understands it, it is an event that occurs before the man of sin is revealed. Paul does not use the title Antichrist for this man but his decription matches John's decription of the Antichrist in 1John 2:18 and Rev. 13. The man of sin will lead the world into rebellion against God (v. 10), perform wonders through Satan's power (v.9) and finally will present himself as a god to be worshipped. To Be Continued:     Author & Page Design by: Aalie-2008 © This may be  forwarded, reposted, copied and re-used �?with proper attribution and this notice intact.   Bg Courtesy of Aalie Christ Followers