By: Robert Serreyn

Question? In 2 Thessalonians 2:3 what does Falling Away First mean?

(2 Thessalonians 2:3) 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.

Answer:

The phrase “FALLING AWAY FIRST” is quite confusing.

It should have been translated as a “DEPARTURE FIRST” which it would make this verse in agreement with 1 Thessalonians 4:16,17. and 1 Corinthians 15:52

(1 Thessalonians 4:16,17) For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: (17) Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

(1 Corinthians 15:51,52) Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, (52) In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

2 Thessalonians 2:3 is speaking of two things

1. The Rapture (Falling Away First = Departure)

2. The Man of sin , Son of Perdition (Anti- Christ)

The order of events ACCORDING to 2 Thessaloinians 2:3 is:

#1. ALL BELIEVERS(all those who have TRUSTED Christ ALONE as their saviour) WILL BE raptured.

1 Corinthians 15:51 says we shall ALL be changed, this verse ALONE disproves the FALSE DOCTRINE of partial rapture theology

#2. The Mam of Sin / Son of Perdition(hell) the Anti – Christ will be revealed AFTER the rapture.

2 Thessalonians 2:4 tells us that the Anti – Christ will 3 1/2 years into the 7 year Tribulation Period WILL declare himself to be god. and DEMAND to be worshipped as God.

(2 Thessalonians 2:4) Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

The Book of Revalation in Chapter 13:1-18 Explains that he will at that time DEMAND every living soul to take his mark 666, WITHOUT this mark you will not be able to buy, sell, or do anything. ALSO at this point EVERY PERSON will be given two options:

#1 take the Mark 666,

OR

#2 have your head chopped off

(Revelation 20:4) And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

This 7 year time period WILL BE total chaos, God will be pouring out his wrath on ALL unbelieving people. To ESCAPE having to go through the 7 year Tribulation Period is to TRUST CHRIST ALONE NOW, believe that He DIED and shed his blood on the cross for your sins, was BURIED and three days latter RESURRECTED from the dead, the moment you do believe and trust Christ Alone, God gives you two Promises in John 3:16:

– Shall (will) not perish (go to hell)

– But have EVELASTING LIFE

(John 3:16) For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

The MOST IMPORTANT thing to know IS Jesus Christ as savior, just simply believe that Jesus Christ went to the cross and DIED and shed his blood, was BURIED and three days later RESURRECTED from the dead to pay for your sins. the MOMENT you believe(TRUST in Christ ALONE) you recieve eternal life.

-Christ DIED for you – Romans 5:8

-Christ PAID your sins in full – 2 Corinthians 5:21,1 Peter 2:24

-BELIEVE (Trust In Completely) in Christ ALONE as the complete payment of sin for salvation – John 3:16, Acts 16:31, Ephesians 2:8,9

“For the wages(payment) of sin is death (eternal torment in hell); but the GIFT(salvation) of God is eternal life THROUGH Jesus Christ our Lord”. Romans 6:23

IT IS THAT SIMPLE – THE GOSPEL TRUTH