Paul teaches the Thessalonians that before the Man of Sin is revealed and before Christ returns, the Church will "fall away." To me this implies that the Church is restraining the Man of Sin from being revealed. The concept of "falling away" is much different than the concept of being snatched up (raptured). That would be a lifting up, not a falling away.
[SUP]3 [/SUP]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...
In my church we have very few young people. I would estimate about 70% of the church is older than me. What is it like in other churches? Are we just going to die out, those of us with faith? According to a recent 2015 Washington Post article (link below), Christianity is down 8% in just 7 years under Barrack Obama in America.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news...-becoming-even-less-affiliated-with-religion/
All across Europe, Christian churches are being replaced by Mosques. In the middle east you are killed if you are a Christian which I'm sure isn't helping our numbers. Part of the reason in the decline is Christians have one wife and family size is shrinking while Muslims are allowed 4 wives and often have larger families. The other main reason is world attitude towards Christians is increasingly hostile, if not outright fatal.
The Church will never fall,never be hypocritical,never be shaken,never be moved,never be corrupted,never ever ever.
Jesus said the gates of hell cannot prevail against the Church.
Jesus said the hypocrites do not belong to Him.
The falling away is not the Church that falls away,but will be the time that the world will not accept the truth of the Bible,but an alternate interpretation of the Bible,and Christianity will decline in impacting the world,that will lead to the beast kingdom,where the man of sin claims to have harnessed the power of nature,and achieved power,and the second beast does miracles to convince the world that the first beast did achieve power,and shared this power with the second beast,so he has the power to establish his kingdom,and no foe can stop him,which the world says who is able to make war with him.
1Ti 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
1Ti 4:2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
1Ti 4:3 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.
1Ti 4:4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:
1Ti 4:5 For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.
A false interpretation based on the exaltation of people through the power of nature,and Jesus is not the Savior,but an ascended Master,and Avatar.
Forbid to marry,population reduction in blessed mother earth.Command to abstain from meats,nature worship,reverence of animals.
2Ti 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
2Ti 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
2Ti 4:4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
This interpretation will become popular unifying the religions,with a false interpretation of Christianity,Islam,and Judaism,and all are valid for spiritual evolution,and since all are compatible the saints will decline in impacting the world with the truth,for they will say,get up out of my face,for I am as valid as you,and Jesus is not the only way,and He is not the Savior,but a great teacher for spiritual enlightenment,as well as other teachers,although they will look at Jesus as a great teacher,perhaps the best,but not the Savior of the world.
That is the falling away first,strike one,which will lead to the beast kingdom,and the man of sin claiming to be God,and when they take the mark,strike two,then they make war against the saints,and when they scatter the power of the holy people,strike three,you're out,then cometh the end,when the Son shall deliver the kingdom up to the Father.