The Apostasy

The Apostle Paul responded to false reports about the “Day of the Lord” by pointing to the expected Apostasy and the “Man of Lawlessness.” Jesus would not “arrive” and gather his saints until the “Apostasy” occurred and the “Lawless One” was revealed. Paul also reiterated warnings from Scripture and the words of Jesus concerning the final “falling away” and “deceivers” in the “Last Days.”

Rumors claiming that the “Day of the Lord had set in” circulated in Thessalonica. However, they could not be true since these two key events had not occurred – (2 Thessalonians 2:1-12).

[Photo by Dan Meyers on Unsplash]

Paul is not breaking new ground. The passage includes verbal parallels to the teachings of Jesus as recorded in Matthew, Mark, and Luke. For example, he wrote about the “ARRIVAL (Parousia) of our Lord Jesus Christ, and our GATHERING TOGETHER (episunagôgé) to him” - (2 Thessalonians 2:1).

This statement reflects the words of Jesus when he compared his appearance to the lightning “which flashes from the east, and is seen even unto the west, so will be the ARRIVAL (Parousia) of the Son of man… He will send his angels… and they will GATHER TOGETHER (episunagôgé) his elect from one end of heaven to the other” The spelling episunagôgé represents the noun form of the word (“the gathering”), and episunagôgé its corresponding verb (“to gather”)– (Matthew 24:27-31).

Paul exhorted the Thessalonians not to be “troubled… SO That no one may deceive you in any respect.” Jesus responded likewise to the disciples’ questions about “the end of the age”:

• “BEWARE LEST ANYONE DECEIVE YOU, for many will come in my name, saying, I am the Christ, and deceive many. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars; SEE THAT YOU ARE NOT TROUBLED, for these things must come to pass; but the end is not yet” – (Matthew 24:4-6, 2 Thessalonians 2:2).

The “Day of the Lord” would not begin until the “apostasy comes, and the Man of Lawlessness, the son of destruction was revealed, the one who opposes and exalts himself on high against everyone called God or any object of worship.”

The term “Man of LAWLESSNESS” (Greek - anomia) is another link to the teachings of Jesus. “Many false prophets will arise, and deceive many. And because LAWLESSNESS (anomia) will be multiplied, the love of the many will grow cold” – (Matthew 24:11-12, 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4).

Deceit will cause many disciples to “stumble and betray one another.” Moreover, “Many false prophets will arise and deceive many. And because LAWLESSNESS will abound, the love of the many will grow cold… There will arise false Christs and false prophets, and they will show GREAT SIGNS AND WONDERS to deceive even the elect” – (Matthew 24:10-12, 24).

Likewise, the “Man of Lawlessness” will appear among believers “with all power and SIGNS AND LYING WONDERS,” offering “every deceit of unrighteousness to them that perish because they received not the love of the truth” – (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12).

APOSTASY

The Greek term translated as “apostasy” represents the noun apostasia, meaning, “falling away, apostasy, defection.” In the Scriptures, it is applied to the abandonment of the true faith - (Matthew 5:31, Acts 21:21, 1 Timothy 4:1, Hebrews 3:12).

The historical figure behind this “Man of Lawlessness” was the malevolent ruler described in the Book of Daniel, called variously the “Little Horn,” the “King of fierce countenance,” the “Leader,” and the “Contemptible One.” Paul’s description alludes to the passage in Daniel:

• “And the king shall do according to his will, and HE SHALL EXALT HIMSELF, AND MAGNIFY HIMSELF ABOVE EVERY GOD, and shall speak marvelous things against the God of gods, and he shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished; for that which is determined shall be done” – (Daniel 11:36).

In Daniel, the “indignation” referred to the assault by the “Little Horn” against the “saints.” He “waged war against” them, he “wore out the saints,” he cast down “some of the host of heaven and the stars to the ground,” he “destroyed the saints,” he had “indignation against the covenant,” and through “flattery, he corrupted such as acted wickedly against the covenant” - (Daniel 7:21-25, 8:10, 8:24, 11:30-32).

Likewise, the “Man of Lawlessness” will wage war against the Assembly of God with deceptions and “signs and lying wonders,” causing many to depart from the faith.

Paul also warned Timothy of the future when “some will depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils.” In the Last Days, “evil men and howling imposters will wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.” Peter likewise warned of “false prophets” and “false teachers” who will propagate false doctrines and otherwise cause havoc in the Assembly - (1 Timothy 4:1, 2 Timothy 3:13, 4:1-4, 2 Peter 2:1-3).

Scripture provides a consistent warning. Before the return of Jesus, his churches will experience the “Apostasy,” the Great “Falling Away” as individual saints and perhaps entire congregations embrace the lies of deceivers, especially those of the “Lawless One.” He will be “energized by Satan” to perform “signs and wonders” designed to hoodwink believers so they will reject “the love of the truth.” We have been forewarned.

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RELATED POSTS:

• Rumors and Lies - (Disinformation about the day of the Lord caused alarm in the congregation at Thessalonica – 2 Thessalonians 2:1-2)

• Seated in the Sanctuary - (The Man of Lawlessness will be unveiled when he seats himself in the House of God - 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4)

• The Coming Tempest - (The New Testament warns of a future apostasy caused by deceivers and the Lawless One who will appear before the Day of the Lord)