Is the apostasy spoken of by the apostle Paul in 2 Thessalonians 2:3 a physical departure, a spiritual departure, or both?

As you’ll see, scripture teaches that it’s both a physical and a spiritual departure.

If you’re a believer who’s been born again of the Spirit, then the Holy Spirit is in you. You are sealed by Him until the day of redemption. He will be taken out of the way, then the Antichrist will be revealed. Since He is inside of you until the day of redemption, then you will be taken before the Antichrist is revealed.

“You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4).

“And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption” (Ephesians 4:30).

“And you know what restrains him now, so that in his time he will be revealed. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way. Then that lawless one will be revealed…” (2 Thessalonians 2:6-8a).

“In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory” (Ephesians 1:13-14).

Now, what about the apostasy spoken of by Paul to the Thessalonians?

Well, first of all, don’t let anyone tell you that you’re not supposed to look for any signs prior to the Rapture. After all, in 2 Thessalonians chapter two, Paul was telling the Thessalonians about signs that would occur prior to the beginning of the Day of the Lord.

Don’t listen to those who want to rob you of one of God’s sweetest gifts: hope.

Apostasia – Greek (feminine noun): “going away from a previous stand.”

Apostasy in Context

As always, it is of the utmost importance to follow the surrounding context of any subject. Studying about apostasy is no different.

Let’s read several passages originally written in Greek that use the exact same word and form of “apostasy” as does 2 Thessalonians 2:3.

In the following passages, using the closest context, let’s identify who or what is going away from who or what:

In 1 Maccabees 2:15, the king’s officers were enforcing apostasy against the Lord through pagan worship:

“The king’s officers who were enforcing the apostasy came to the town of Modein to make them offer sacrifice.”

In Joshua 22:22, it’s Israel committing apostasy against the Lord:

“God is the Lord, and God Himself knows, and Israel He shall know; if we have transgressed before the Lord by apostasy, let Him not deliver us this day.”

In Jeremiah 2:19, it’s Judah’s apostasy against the Lord:

“Thine apostasy shall correct thee… saith the Lord thy God.”

In 2 Chronicles 29:19, king Achaz committed apostasy against the Lord:

“And all the vessels which King Achaz polluted in his reign, in his apostasy, we have prepared and purified: behold, they are before the Lord.”

In Acts 21:21, it’s the Gentiles committing apostasy against Moses:

“But they have been informed about you that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses…”

In 2 Thessalonians 2:3, who or what is committing apostasy from who or what?

“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.”

The closest context in 2 Thessalonians 2:3 surrounding the apostasy is “you,” “that Day,” and “the man of sin.”

In 2 Thessalonians 2:3, it’s you (the believers) committing apostasy against the man of sin.

Since believers are sealed with the Holy Spirit, when the Holy Spirit is taken out of the way, believers will be both physically and spiritually taken out of the way with Him at the Rapture.

 

We live in a very cowardly world, where the politically correct mob can now force just about anyone to bend to their collective will of false morality.

As is obvious to any cognizant human being alive today, the world writes its own moral code. The world’s moral code is in direct opposition to God’s moral code, as written in the Holy Bible.

God says that He created the earth and all life on it (Genesis 1:1).

The world says that all life evolved from itself without God.

God says that we should honor authority (Romans 13:1, Titus 3:1, 1 Timothy 2:1-2, 1 Peter 2:13).

The world says that if you disagree with anything about those in authority such as your local law enforcement, your employer, your teacher, or your parents, then rebel by any force necessary until they buckle under your pressure.

God says that law enforcement exists for peace and security (Romans 13:3-4).

The world says abolish all law enforcement.

God says to love even your enemies, let alone your own families (Matthew 5:44, Luke 6:27-36, Ephesians 4:2, 1 Peter 4:8).

The world says eye for an eye, and tooth for a tooth.

God says only men and women should marry each other (Genesis 2:24, Ephesians 5:31).

The world says men should marry men, and women should marry women.

God says once married, a man and a woman should stay married (Matthew 5:32, Luke 16:18, Romans 7:2, 1 Corinthians 7:39, 1 Timothy 3:2).

The world says you should divorce and remarry as many times as you want.

God says no sex before marriage (1 Corinthians 7:2, Hebrews 13:4, 1 Thessalonians 4:3).

The world says have as much sex with as many people as you want, whether you’re married or not, so long as you’re protected from VD.

God says that human life exists and that it is valuable in the womb (Psalm 22:10, Isaiah 49:5, Jeremiah 1:5, Galatians 1:15).

The world says you can end the life that is in your womb anytime and in any way that you want.

God says that all races that believe in Jesus become one equal race in Christ (Galatians 3:28).

The world says that one unequal race is responsible for all crimes against all other races, in order to produce more hatred and racism amongst all races.

And on, and on, the list can go.

Why does the world continue to rewrite the moral laws of God in its own image? To distract each other from actually following the moral laws of God.

It stands to reason that if there’s only one respected source of moral ethics and justice, then that one source will be the standard by which all other morals are judged. When the Bible was that one most respected source of law and justice in America, then America was a safer and more prosperous land.

Since Satan hates God, he deceives his followers into rejecting and rebelling against God’s moral laws. Satan has to use a replacement moral code in order to deceive those who are hardhearted into believing that they’re doing the right thing.

And that’s the Red Herring of the world’s mob-rule false morality.

Joseph Wu from the University of Cambridge defines a red herring as: a rhetorical device and fallacy that is often difficult to spot. A red herring occurs when something is introduced to an argument that misleads or distracts from the relevant issue.

It seems that the most relevant issue today is to bring about peace on earth. True peace can only be brought about by following God’s recipe for peace and security. False peace, resulting in riots and war, is brought about by following Satan’s red herring mob-rule recipe for “peace and security.”

Without the guidance and wisdom of the Holy Spirit of God, any human can be deceived by Satan:

“For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect” (Matthew 24:24).

In order to receive the guidance and wisdom of the Holy Spirit given by God’s amazing grace, you have to repent and believe in the perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ as the Son of God for your sins, and His resurrection unto life.

You actually have to admit that the world’s morals are not God’s morals. You have to admit that you are a sinner. After you are eternally saved, only then will you have the right attitude toward God and a clear understanding of the false morality preached by the world.

Before you can have the right attitude, you have to receive understanding provided by the Holy Spirit.

Before the Holy Spirit will provide you with understanding, you have to confess all of your sins and accept God’s salvation.

Before you can confess your sins, you have to have conviction of all of your sins.

Before you can be truly convicted of your sins, you must ask God for mercy.

Before you ask God for mercy, you must humble yourself.

Before you can humble yourself under the mighty hand of God, you must soften your heart.

Before you can soften your heart, you must first set aside your pride.

“‘God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.’ Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:5b-7).

“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:8-9).

“That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, ‘Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame’” (Romans 10:9-11).

Do not be deceived!