LEARNING DAILY

 

2 Thessalonians 2:3, “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.”  Paul

 

Some background is necessary to understand this verse.  2 Thessalonians 2 is a very important chapter concerning prophecy.  Because Believers were facing great persecution at this time, rumors surfaced that they had entered the time of tribulation that would happen before the return of Christ.  This is Paul’s attempt to tell them that Day (refers to the seven-year period known as the Tribulation) had not come yet.  Yes, as Christians they were being persecuted for their faith.  No, this was not the Tribulation and they had not missed the rapture.  Paul stated here for that Day to occur two things had to occur: 1) there had to be a falling away – apostacy and 2) the Antichrist had to be ready to offer a solution to the world’s problems.  I want to focus on apostacy today.

 

Apostacy literally means “departure” or “abandonment” will occur in the last days; many in the professing church will depart from Biblical truth.  “Both Jesus and Paul paint a dismal picture morally, spiritually and doctrinally as the present age closes (Matthew 24:5, 10-13, 24; 1 Timothy 4:1; 2 Timothy 4:3-4).  Paul in particular stresses that the churches will be invaded by godless elements in the last days.” (Life in the Spirit Study Bible notes).  In other words, this final apostacy will be a widespread falling away on the part of those who profess to know God.  Paul is saying this falling away has to happen before the Tribulation occurs.  How widespread? It will more than likely be worldwide.

 

It is pretty easy to affirm that the day we live in is different from the time Paul wrote his letter to the Thessalonians.  Consider the teaching from the pulpit today.  There are those teaching Christ was only a man, that He was not sinless, did not rise from the dead and He is not coming again.  They are teaching that the Scriptures are out of date, full of errors and teaching and even practicing what is not biblical.  Today we are witnessing false hope that involves easy salvation by works and the abandonment of God’s moral law and standards of righteousness.  The truth of God’s word is being corrupted and rebellion against God and His Word will be much worse than what it is now.  Then God’s wrath will be on those who reject His truth (see 1 Thessalonians 5:2-9). 

 

Where are we in all of this? I really do not know.  This has been going on for what seems to be a long time.  Perhaps we are near what some scholars I have read have called “the final, great falling away” that will immediately signal the arrival of the Antichrist – the second necessary happening before the Tribulation.

 

Stand firm in your faith. Know truth from what is false.  Do not be deceived by those who are teaching the Bible is full of error.  Now is not the time to be slack in your walk with the Lord.

 

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