Paul uses the same word to refer to those who shall 'depart from the faith' in the end times. That's what we have in all his epistles about it to give us a clue as to what he's talking about.
In II Thessalonians 1, he'd already told them when Jesus comes back, He is going to give the church rest from them that trouble them, executing vengence on them that know not God.
Also, in I Thessalonians 4, the rapture occurs at the parousia, Christ's coming. In II Thessalonians 2:8, that wicked is destroyed with the brightness of the Lord's coming. So how is the man of sin not even going to be revealed before the 'departing' if the 'departing' happens at the Lord's coming, and the man of sin is destroyed at the Lord's coming? The man of sin has to be revealed before he is destroyed at the coming of the Lord-- and the rapture occurs at the coming of the lord. . To understand the departure/apostacy, look at Paul's words about many departing from the faith. Christ also spoke of the love of many waxing cold.
In II Thessalonians 1, he'd already told them when Jesus comes back, He is going to give the church rest from them that trouble them, executing vengence on them that know not God.
Also, in I Thessalonians 4, the rapture occurs at the parousia, Christ's coming. In II Thessalonians 2:8, that wicked is destroyed with the brightness of the Lord's coming. So how is the man of sin not even going to be revealed before the 'departing' if the 'departing' happens at the Lord's coming, and the man of sin is destroyed at the Lord's coming? The man of sin has to be revealed before he is destroyed at the coming of the Lord-- and the rapture occurs at the coming of the lord. . To understand the departure/apostacy, look at Paul's words about many departing from the faith. Christ also spoke of the love of many waxing cold.