2 Thessalonians 2:1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,

Paul in his 2nd letter to the Thessalonians writes them to clear up the confusion in this group of believers because of his 1st letter concerning the coming of Christ, and our gathering to Him. (commonly referred to as the rapture)

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

Evidently they believed Christ could return to rapture them at any given moment, or that his return was imminent. Sounds very similar to the popular imminent rapture doctrine so popular today doesn't it?

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;

Sounds like they were being deceived about the truth of Christ's coming. So Paul sets them straight with the factual assertion "that day shall NOT come". Except or until there coming a falling away first.

High profile preachers who teach the rapture theory today would have us believe this "falling away" is actually our departure in the rapture! The original greek for "falling away" translated here is apostasia which means to forsake or a revolt or defection in a religious or political sense. Rapture theorist appeal to the related verb aphistemi which means to depart whether in a physical sense or figurative.

The problem with this defense is there is no instance in the New Testament where apostasia is used other than a religious apostasy, plus the 4 times it occurs in the Greek Septuagint, (Old Testament), it's a defection or rebellion in a religious or political sense.

On top of that, in over 300 recorded instances from the time period surrounding when Paul wrote this letter, (Josephus, Philo, et al.) there is not 1, I repeat, Not One single instance of apostasia meaning anything other than a religious or political defection, revolt, or rebellion. Not Even Once in this time period is it ever used to indicate a physical or spatial departure. (this is why apostasy today means to forsake your religious beliefs, makes sense huh?)

"...and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;" So who is the man of sin/son of perdition? It's satan of course in his role as anti-christ. Let's see....

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.

Satan is cast from heaven at the beginning of the approaching tribulation period and proclaims to be Christ preforming miracles, causing temporary peace and prosperity deceiving the the entire world. Only those with the seal of God's Word in their minds, (the oil of the Spirit), will not be deceived by him.

As you read the rest of this chapter Paul tells us those that don't have a love of the truth, (God's Word) will receive this strong delusion from God Himself as he casts satan to earth to deceive them.

Believing the timing of the popular Rapture Theory of today is not just believing false doctrine, it's actually being set up to accept the 1st christ who comes along who is in fact the imposter. Don't think you'll be decieved? If you're being deceived now, believe me your chances of being deceived by satan himself are extremely likely!

We'll have much more information regarding this deception as well as information about the tribulation period itself and how to stand for the Real Christ and be one of the overcomers who remained faithful to Him when he returns at the 7th trump of Revelations.

Related: Common Arguments For The Rapture

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