2 Thess. 2 Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers and sisters, 2 not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by the teaching allegedly from us—whether by a prophecy or by word of mouth or by letter—asserting that the day of the Lord has already come. 3 Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the departure occurs and the man of sin is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. 4 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.
I believe Paul was speaking of a physical departure. If correct it would imply a pre-tribulation rapture.
Your thoughts
2Th 2:1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,
2Th 2:2 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.
2Th 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.
The saints will not be gathered unto Christ until the man of sin claims to God which happens in the middle of a 7 years period.
So there is no pre-trib resurrection.
Also salvation is still available for the first 3.5 years so the saints will be on earth to represent the truth.
Also the tribulation is not for the world but the saints.
And it is for the last 3.5 years.
Mat 25:10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.
Mat 25:11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
Mat 25:12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
Mat 25:13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
Rev 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
Also when the resurrection happens no person can be saved for it is over.
The hypocrites will not be resurrected and the world will not be resurrected later or saved later for they denied the truth.
Rev 13:7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.
The beast makes war against the saints for the last 3.5 years.
Dan 7:25 And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.
Which they will be given in to his hands for 3.5 years.
Dan 12:7 And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished.
At the end of the last 3.5 years all things are finished.
1Co 15:23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.
1Co 15:24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.
Then comes the end when Jesus will deliver up the kingdom and then put down the world.
The resurrection cannot happen before the 7 years period for then there would not be a 7 years period.
For once the resurrection happens Jesus puts down the world so they would not continue for 7 years.
When the resurrection happens it is the end and the heathen do not continue.
Since God is giving the world 7 years to go against the truth the saints will remain on earth to represent the truth.
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;
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.
Dan 11:36 And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done.
Dan 11:37 Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all.
Dan 11:38 But in his estate shall he honour the God of forces: and a god whom his fathers knew not shall he honour with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things.
The new age christianity that interprets the Bible and religions according to the occult and evolution, and people are going to evolve to be spiritual, and greater, and Jesus became an ascended master among others, and there is no personal God, but they honor the God of forces the power of nature, and the New Age Christ is the next world teacher.
The time will come that people will not want to hear the truth of the Bible but want to hear it according to the new age.
It is the religion of the antichrist as he tries to unite the religions saying they are compatible.
The antichrist will not regard any god but he will exalt himself above all and honor the God of forces the power of the Cosmos.
The other religions believe the Bible is truth although they do not believe all of it is truth and they will interpret the Bible according to their religion.
Including Islam which they believe the Quran is the last book of the Bible.
And the Bible is truth and Jesus is salvation.
So the devil will use a false interpretation of the Bible to deceive the world which he is able to do because God is going to allow the world 7 years to have their way to cause all people who do not love the truth to follow the antichrist.
And when they do God will end sin on earth.
Which there will be no middle ground for they will be with God or the antichrist.
2Th 2:1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,
2Th 2:2 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.
2Th 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;
2Th 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 saints will not be gathered unto Christ until there is a falling away first and the man of sin claims to be God.
Which for the first 3.5 years the man of sin will push the agenda of the new age which he will think to change times and laws.
Salvation is available to the world during the first 3.5 years.
The antichrist claims to be God in the middle of the 7 years period.
Mat 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Mat 24:48 But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming;
Mat 24:49 And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken;
Mat 24:50 The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of,
Mat 24:51 And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
The falling away first is not the Church for the gates of hell cannot prevail against the Church so it cannot fall away.
And the hypocrites do not belong to the Church so their hypocrisy cannot do any damage to the Church.
The Church only contains people who act Christlike and in the truth.
Dan 8:23 And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up.
Dan 8:24 And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people.
The falling away first is the condition of the world in response to the Gospel.
Which they stopped the preaching of Jesus as Lord and Savior and the belief in a personal God all nations governments in agreement.
At the end of the first 3.5 years it is the falling away first when the transgressors have come to the full.
Continued in next post
that word does in fact mean falling away or departure. No offense we do tend to go what the meaning of that word to fit our personal view. The gates of hell will never prevail against the church. We are the only thing on this earth that holds Satan back. We being Christ in us has all power all authority over the enemy and nothing nothing nothing shall by any means hurt you. Greater is He that is in you than he that's in the world. It would seem once "something" is taken out of the way then only then can Satan/lawless one come out in the open do lying wonders. He GOD said I give you all power/authority over the enemy. God has never changed and never will. 