2ND THESSALONIANS

1
2ND THESSALONIANS

• CHAPTER 2
• Verses 1-8
• The Thessalonians were afraid!
• WHY?

2
WHAT WAS THE REASON FOR 2nd THESSALONIANS
CHAPTER 2

• 2 Thessalonians 22 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.
• Was it because the Thessalonian believers had a
  fear that the Day of the Lord had begun?
  
• Remember the question in the opening slide
  subtitle?

3
WHAT WAS THE QUESTION?

• QUESTION WHY WERE THE THESSALONIANS AFRAID? Was
  it because they thought the Day of the Lord had
  begun? If so, WHY SHOULD THAT BOTHER THEM?
  
• IT WOULD NOT BOTHER ME!
• Im sure the Thessalonians were at least as
  strong in their belief as I am, and probably
  stronger. So why were they afraid?
  

4
SERIOUSLY!

• If I were to find out that I had to go through
  the Day of the Lord, (a time when there will be
  great trouble here on earth)
  
• I would be excited!!!! Because that would mean
  that Christs coming was just around the corner!
  
• I dont think the Thessalonians were any less
  committed than I am so why would the possibility
  that the The Day of the Lord had begun, scare
  them?

5
BEFORE WE ANSWER

• that question. I want to remind you all of
  something.
  
• Proverbs 252 It is the glory of God to conceal
  a thing but the honour of kings is to search out
  a matter.
  
• God conceals things. BUT

6
IT IS THE HONOR OF KINGSTO SEARCH THEM OUT

• Anybody got a king handy? I need some help with
  scripture.
  
• Revelation 1916 And he hath on his vesture and
  on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND
  LORD OF LORDS.
  
• Jesus Christ is King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
  If he is King of Kings then.

7
WHO ARE THE KINGS

• he is king over? Answer
• Revelation 15-6 And from Jesus Christ, who is
  the faithful witness, and the first begotten of
  the dead, and the prince of the kings of the
  earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from
  our sins in his own blood,
• And hath made us kings and priests unto God and
  his Father to him be glory and dominion for ever
  and ever. Amen.

8
SO YOU ARE A KING!

• Jesus Christ has made you a king and priest of
  God, our Father.
  
• So God now has millions of kings and priests, and
  over these kings, is the King of kings, Jesus.
  
• Wanna know what else?

9
THOUGH GOD HIDES THINGS

• We are fortunate!
• Why? Because
• Amos 37 Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing,
  but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the
  prophets.

10
GOD DOES NOTHING

• without revealing it to his servants, the
  prophets! Period!
  
• Therefore, there is nothing hidden that we cannot
  find out
  
• and we, as Gods kings, are empowered to find
  out the things God has hidden! So on to
  Thessalonians

11
2ND THESSALONIANS 21,2

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

12
2 Thessalonians 23, 4

• 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
• 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.

13
2 Thessalonians 25, 6

• 5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you,
  I told you these things?
  
• 6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might
  be revealed in his time.

14
2 Thessalonians 27, 8

• 7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work
  only he who now letteth will let, until he be
  taken out of the way.
  
• 8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom
  the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his
  mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of
  his coming

15
OKAY, WE BEGIN 2 Thess 21

• Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of
  our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering
  together unto him,
  
• Lets see what Paul means when he says beseech,
  above.
  
• First the English dictionary

16
MERRIAM WEBSTER

• Beseech
• 1 to beg for urgently or anxiously2 to
  request earnestly IMPLORE
  
• Implore
• 1 to call upon in supplication BESEECH2 to
  call or pray for earnestly ENTREAT

17
HOW ABOUT THE GREEK?

• The word beseech is translated from the Greek
  word erotao
  
• 2065 erotao er-o-tah'-o
• Meaning 1) to question 2) to ask 2a) to
  request, entreat, beg, beseech
  
• Origin apparently from 2046 cf 2045
• Usage AV - ask 23, beseech 14, pray 14, desire
  6, intreat 1 58
  

I like to check out origins
18
Origin apparently from 2046 cf 2045

• 2045 ereunao er-yoo-nah'-o erotao
• Meaning 1) to search, examine into
• Origin apparently from 2046 (through the idea
  of enquiry) TDNT - 2655,255 v
  
• Usage AV - search 6 6
• NOW LETS LOOK AT 2046

19
Origin apparently from 2046 cf 2045

• 2046 ereo er-eh'-o
  erotao
  
• Meaning 1) to utter, speak, say
• Origin probably a fuller form of 4483, an
  alternate for 2036 in cert. tenses v
  
• Usage AV - say 57, speak 7, tell 4, speak of 2,
  call 1 71
  
• NOW LETS LOOK AT 4483

20
Origin probably a fuller form of 4483

• 4483 re,w rheo hreh'-o
• Meaning 1) to pour forth, to utter
• Origin for certain tenses of which a prolonged
  form ereo er-eh'-o, is used, and both as
  alternate for 2036, perhaps akin (or ident.) with
  4482 (through the idea of pouring forth) v
• Usage AV - speak 12, say, speak of 3, command
  1, make 1 26

21
BESEECH IN FULL BLOOM

• All definitions and nuances.
• ENGLISH to beg urgently, anxiously, to implore,
  to call and pray for earnestly.
  
• GREEK to question, ask, request, entreat, beg,
  to search or examine into, to speak, utter, or
  say in a pouring forth.

22
WE DRILL A LITTLE FURTHER

• 2 Thessalonians 21 Now we beseech you, brethren,
  by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by
  our gathering together unto him,
  
• Next, we focus on the word, by.
• Whenever we do something by something, that
  something is the standard, the litmus test.
  
• For example, when we do something by the
  numbers, or by the book.

23
THE STANDARD

• The subject, the standard, the benchmark, that we
  are going to measure everything in the 2nd
  chapter of Thessalonians by is
  
• 2 Thessalonians 21 Now we beseech you, brethren,
  by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by
  our gathering together unto him,

24
AS IS APPROPRIATE

• the subject of chapter two is introduced in the
  first verse. That subject is
  
• 1. the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ,
• AND
• 2. our gathering together unto him,

25
WE WOULD SAY

• Today Im going to talk to you about.
• The subject is introduced before we begin
  speaking on the body of that subject.
  
• God is no different.

26
SO THE SUBJECT IS

• 1. the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ,
• AND
• 2. our gathering together unto him,

27
DEFINITELY TWO ITEMS

• 1. the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ,
• 2. our gathering together unto him,
• Now these two items could be two aspects of the
  same event, or two different events separated in
  time.

28
LET ME EXPLAIN

• and here, I am going to be forced to take a
  side road, not because I want to, but because, as
  with any important bible truth, such as the
  gathering together, or rapture of the church, and
  Christs 2nd coming, mischief, obfuscation, and
  confusion abound.
• First, there are three main views as to the
  timing of our gathering together unto him,
  i.e., the rapture, and the second coming of
  Christ. A fourth view came into prominence during
  the 1990s.
• I will briefly explain and demonstrate these four
  views with some assisting illustrations.

29
FIRST, THE MILLENNIUM

• The word millennium, is derived from two Latin
  words, milus, which means a thousand, and
  annum, meaning year. Literally, a one thousand
  year period.
• Scholars refer to a period that Revelation
  predicts will occur in the future, following
  Christs 2nd coming as, the millennium

30
REVELATION

• Revelation 201-3
• 1 And I saw an angel come down from heaven,
  having the key of the bottomless pit and a great
  chain in his hand.
  
• 2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old
  serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound
  him a thousand years,
  
• 3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut
  him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should
  deceive the nations no more, till the thousand
  years should be fulfilled and after that he must
  be loosed a little season.

31
MORE REVELATION

• Revelation 204 and I saw the souls of them
  that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and
  for the word of God, and which had not worshipped
  the beast, neither his image, neither had
  received his mark upon their foreheads, or in
  their hands and they lived and reigned with
  Christ a thousand years.

32
STILL MORE

• Revelation 205-7 5 But the rest of the dead
  lived not again until the thousand years were
  finished. This is the first resurrection. 6
  Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the
  first resurrection on such the second death hath
  no power, but they shall be priests of God and of
  Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand
  years. 7 And when the thousand years are
  expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,

33
SO THERE IS THIS PERIOD

• still future, that is a thousand years in
  duration, during which, Satan will be bound not
  allowed to roam.
  
• The first resurrection will have taken place at
  the beginning of the thousand years. This is why
  scholars place the thousand years after, or
  starting right at, the second coming of Christ.
  Why again, you may ask?

34
BECAUSE, AS WE READ

• The thousand years begins with the first
  resurrection, and it is Christ who performs this
  first resurrection, so he has to be returned as
  these resurrected people are going to live and
  reign with him.
• Where!
• On earth!

35
SO GODS WORD

• places Christs second coming right at, on, or
  just before, the beginning of the prophesied one
  thousand year period, this period being called
  often the millennial reign of Christ.
• Graphically it would look like the next slide.

36
THE MILLENIUM
Note My own research confirms a seven day week
from Adam to the end of time, therefore I firmly
support the seven one-thousand year days from
Adam until the end of Christs millennial reign
which is then followed by a new heaven and new
earth, beginning an eighth day that has no end
(eternal), or as some rabbis call it, a time of
not counting. This truth of the seven days is
demonstrable by some obvious and some not so
obvious scriptures, however, proving that truth
is outside the scope of this effort. That said,
no harm is done by my illustrations because
whether you support such a doctrine or not, the
historical fact that almost two thousand years --
or, 2 days, depending upon your understanding --
have passed since Christs ascension and
Pentecost until the present is unarguable.
Further, Revelation is clear - as we have seen in
our previous verses - that there is a period up
ahead of us, prophetically speaking, of one
thousand years in length. Therefore, my
illustrations can at least be helpful in
depicting the last two thousand years, and the
coming millennium.
37
PRE POST or A choo!

• There are three prominent views of the
  millennium the thousand year period that we have
  been discussing.
  
• 1. 1st view is PRE-MILLENIALISM
• 2. 2nd view is POST-MILLENIALISM
• 3. 3rd view is A-MILLENIALISM

Note I will often hyphenate a word, not because
spelling requires it, but because I want to make
a distinction.
38
1st VIEW PRE-MILLENNIALISM

• The premillenialist view is this essentially
• That the rapture of the church, the judgements of
  Revelation, the antichrist, Armageddon, and the
  second coming of Christ, must all have already
  have occurred, or at least be coincident with the
  beginning of the thousand years (the millennium).
  And most importantly, that the thousand years
  (the millennium) is still future to us. There is
  more but Im just giving the basics.

39
2nd VIEW POST-MILLENNIALISM

• The postmillennialist view is essentially this
• That the thousand years (the millennium) has
  already happened that the thousand years began
  counting two thousand years ago, and that we are
  now living in a period which is
  post-pastmillennial.

40
3rd VIEW A-MILLENNIALISM

• The amillenialist view is this
• That there is no literal thousand year reign of
  Christ. That rather, the millennium, and
  Revelations references to such a period, are
  allegorical, and that the church reigns presently
  on earth in proxy for Christ.

41
FOR OBVIOUS REASONS

• I hold to the premillenialist position as it
  fits scripture when scripture is viewed in a
  literal sense and the prophecies are not
  allegorized away. History confirms that the
  thousand year reign of Christ has not occurred
  yet, not to mention that scripture indicates
  Satan is bound during this thousand year period.
  World conditions indicate that Satan is still
  active, not bound.

42
SO I/WE ARE PREMILLENNIALIST

• That is, we believe that the thousand-year
  millennium is still future to us, and is a
  prophecy yet to be fulfilled.
  
• That said, we must now deal with a period
  commonly called, the Great Tribulation, or the
  70th week of Daniel chapter nine, a prophetic
  seven year period which is still future to us.

43
THE GREAT TRIBULATION

• is a time that will be like no other period in
  history.
  
• Matthew 2421-22 21 For then shall be great
  tribulation, such as was not since the beginning
  of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
  22 And except those days should be shortened,
  there should no flesh be saved but for the
  elect's sake those days shall be shortened.

44
THE GREAT TRIBULATION

• has obviously not occurred yet, but when will
  it occur? Since the great tribulation is marked
  by, and ends with, judgment and scholars place
  the second coming of Christ at the end of this
  seven year period, right before, or right at, the
  beginning of the one thousand year millennium
  then
• the Great Tribulation (believed to be seven
  years in duration) ends, just as the millennium,
  or final thousand years begins at the 2nd coming.

45
AND IT LOOKS LIKE THIS
46
7 YEAR TRIBULATION

• Has it happened yet?
• Matthew 2421 For then shall be great
  tribulation, such as was not since the beginning
  of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall
  be.
• No!

47
SO THE TRIBULATION

• is future
• Therefore we are
• Pre-tribulational a-n-n-n-n-d
• Pre-millennial
• Both the seven-year Great Tribulation and the
  thousand-year millennium are future to us.

48
NOW, WE NEED TO GOA LITTLE DEEPER

• Because though all pre-millennialists agree that
  the thousand year millennium is still future to
  us, and that Christ's 2nd coming is still future
  to us
• They disagree as to the timing of the gathering
  together, variously called the catching away,
  or rapture. We must have the seven year
  tribulation in view as we consider the various
  rapture views.

49
CONCERNING THE RAPTURE

• There are three prominent views, and a fourth not
  so prominent but more recent view (CIRCA 1990),
  as to when the rapture will occur.
  
• Each view has its dogged proponents, faithful
  supporters, who will readily point out how wrong
  the other views are.

50
1st A WORD ON THE WORD

• rapture.
• Before we get all exercised about the use of the
  word rapture, and its lack of presence in the
  bible, I would like to mention a few salient
  facts.
• Jeromes translation of the Hebrew and Greek
  scriptures into Latin, known as the Vulgate,
  occurred following an order from Pope Damasus I,
  in 382 AD.

51
RAPTURE contd.

• Jerome translated the following verse from the
  KJV
  
• 1 Thessalonians 417 Then we which are alive
  and remain shall be caught up together with them
  in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air and
  so shall we ever be with the Lord.
• Using the Latin word rapiemur, which means a
  catching or snatching away. In our verse above,
  the English words caught up are translated from
  the Greek word harpazo, which means the same
  thing, to catch or snatch away.

52
JUST A LITTLE MORE ARCANE INFORMATION ON RAPTURE

• Jeromes choice of the Latin rapiemur gives me
  no particular heartburn as it does mean, as we
  said, to catch or snatch away.
  
• Furthermore, rapiemur is the indicative passive
  future plural form. The present tense, active
  form in Latin is rapere, from which the word
  rapture is derived. It means to snatch, grab,
  or carry off.
• (see http//en.wiktionary.org/wiki/rapere).
• Sounds like rapture to me. But you know what,
  if you want to call it the rapture, the gathering
  together, the great snatch, the catching up, or
  even the abduction of the church, Im not going
  to get all twisted, as long as you understand the
  significance of the event and no one is harmed or
  misled by your choice of words.
• Okay, enough of this digression within a
  digression. Lets get back to understanding the
  four views of the tribulation.

53
THE FOUR VIEWS

• The four views as to when the rapture occurs, in
  relation to the seven-year Great Tribulation
  are
  
• 1. The pre-tribulation rapture
• 2. The mid-tribulation rapture
• 3. The post-tribulation rapture
• 4. The pre-wrath rapture

54
1st THE PRE-TRIBULATION RAPTURE

• and it looks like this

NOTE Pre-tribulation rapture beliefs vary
somewhat as to whether the rapture happens some
unknown period of time prior to the start of the
seven year tribulation, or whether it happens
right at the start of the seven years and may
even trigger the start of the seven year
tribulation. Point is, all agree that the rapture
precedes the Great Tribulation and these folks
would therefore be pre-tribulational in their
view.
55
A WORD ABOUT IMMINENCY

• I was always told that the reason that I could
  never be successful in discovering the timing for
  the rapture of the church was because of
  something called the doctrine of immanency.
• The doctrine known as immanency essentially
  rests on the belief that Christ could have
  returned at any time in church history from the
  next day after Pentecost up to, and including,
  our present moment.

56
THE PRE-TRIBULATION RAPTURE with a twist
The doctrine of immanency represents that the
rapture could have occurred any time from
Pentecost until the present, and anytime in the
future, prior to the Great Tribulation.
57
MORE ON IMMINENCY

• I found, in my research, that the doctrine of
  immanency is a contrivance. It exists no where in
  scripture clearly stated but rather, is assembled
  through inference.
• There is no such word in the bible, nor words to
  that effect.
  
• In the interest of not taking our current
  subject, the Thessalonians fear, to far afield, I
  am not going to deal with immanency here. Suffice
  to say that careful examination will demonstrate
  the fallacy of the doctrine of immanency. Nuff
  said.
• (If you have questions on immanency ask me)

58
NOW THE MID-TRIBULATION RAPTURE

• We have covered the 1st position,
  pre-tribulation, now here is the 2nd.
  Mid-tribulation rapture. This view has the
  rapture occurring half way through the seven
  years.

59
THE POST-TRIBULATION RAPTURE

• The 3rd view, post-tribulationalism, has the
  rapture occurring simultaneously with the 2nd
  coming. And following the seven years when they
  end.

60
THE REDHEADED STEPCHILD

• 4th view, the pre-wrath rapture why?
• Revelation 151 And I saw another sign in
  heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having
  the seven last plagues for in them is filled up
  the wrath of God.
• Revelation 161 And I heard a great voice out of
  the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your
  ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God
  upon the earth.

61
SO WHY PRE-WRATH?

• Romans 59 Much more then, being now justified
  by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath
  through him.
  
• 1 Thessalonians 110 And to wait for his Son
  from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even
  Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to
  come.
• 1 Thessalonians 59 For God hath not appointed
  us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord
  Jesus Christ,

62
SO WHEN IS THE PRE-WRATH RAPTURE?
The pre-wrath position is a view that sees the
church being raptured at a time that precedes the
2nd coming of Christ by some months. That period
of a few months is the period where Gods wrath
via the bowls and vials are poured out upon the
earth. The pre-wrath view envisions that the
wrath to come that we have been saved from is
Gods wrath, and Gods wrath is not poured out
until the final months of the seven year
tribulation. Any wrath prior to that is Satans
wrath. A side note The seven year period commonl
y called Daniels 70th week and the Great
Tribulation needs a slight correction in our
understanding. While Daniels 70th week is in
fact seven years in length, the Great Tribulation
itself is the final, or last, three and one half
years of that seven year period. See next slide.
63
THE GREAT TRIBULATION IS NOT SEVEN YEARS
Briefly, it goes like this Dan 927 has the
Abomination of Desolation taking place in the
midst of the final 70th week, i.e., the final
seven years still future to us. The Abomination
of Desolation is described by Paul in 2 Thess.
24 as being the man of sin sitting in the
temple. Jesus said in Matthew 2415 that the
Abomination of Desolation spoken of by Daniel,
standing in the temple, would be the trigger
event which starts the The Great Tribulation,
as it is called, for Jesus says when this
abomination happens, he says in verse 21 For
then shall be great tribulation. So simply put,
THE tribulation does not begin until the man of
sin enters the temple and proclaims himself God,
and that does not happen Daniel says until the
middle of the final seven years, therefore, only
the final three and one half years comprise the
Great Tribulation, not the whole seven.
The Great Tribulation
64
THATS THE BASICS OF THE VARIOUS RAPTURE BELIEFS

• Now that you have somewhat of a mind picture of
  the possible scenarios for the rapture, lets get
  back to 2 Thessalonians 2 1-8, and Pauls reason
  for writing this section.
• The next slide is a repeat of an earlier slide so
  that we may get back on track with our intended
  subject.

65
DEFINITELY TWO ITEMS

• 1. the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ,
• 2. our gathering together unto him,
• 2 Thessalonians 21 Now we beseech you, brethren,
  by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by
  our gathering together unto him, the second by
  is implied

66
First question is

• are these two phrases two aspects of one event?
  Or, are they two distinct events? The answer lies
  in performing our due diligence in the scriptures
  with respect to research. The kind of thing that
  kings do.
• The answer is set in concrete, but more on that
  in a moment. For now, lets look at our next
  verse.

67
Paul beseeches by Christs coming and the rapture

• that they quit getting all shook up.
• 2 Thessalonians 22 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.

68
MOST SCHOLARS AGREE

• that the NASB has the best and most accurate
  translation for this verse as it reads
  
• NASB 2 Thessalonians 22 that you may not be
  quickly shaken from your composure or be
  disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a
  letter as if from us, to the effect that the day
  of the Lord has come.
• The Thessalonians thought the day of the lord was
  currently going on, NOT that it was just about to
  start. They thought they were in it!

69
BACK TO THE KJV

• 2 Thessalonians 22 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 DAY OF THE LORD HAS
  COME.
• Whenever there is error in my thinking I find
  these two conditions in varying degrees shaken
  in mind and troubled.

70
SHAKEN IN MIND

• 4531 saleu,w saleuo sal-yoo'-o
• Meaning 1) a motion produced by winds, storms,
  waves, etc 1a) to agitate or shake 1b) to cause
  to totter 1c) to shake thoroughly, of a measure
  filled by shaking its contents together 2) to
  shake down, overthrow 2a) to cast down from one's
  (secure and happy) state 2b) to move, agitate the
  mind, to disturb one
• To be shaken in mind is a momentary state.

71
TROUBLED

• 2360 throeo thro-eh'-o
• Meaning 1) to cry aloud, make a noise by outcry
  1a) in the NT, to trouble, frighten 1b) to be
  troubled in mind, to be frightened, alarmed
  
• Origin from threomai to wail v
• To be troubled in mind is more ongoing. The
  initial shock of an event may be over, but we
  have a continuing affect when we are troubled.

72
PAUL LOVINGLY BESEECHES

• the Thessalonians to not be shaken or troubled,
  no matter the source of information, be it
  spirit, word as in prophecy, or letter, that
  the Day of the Lord had begun.
• What is Paul going to use to get rid of their
  shaken, troubled, minds? The truth! Error in
  our thinking results in doubt, and doubt leads to
  worry and fear, and fear results in our inability
  to be at peace. Instead, we may find ourselves in
  the conditions the Thessalonians experienced
  being shaken and troubled.

73
WHAT IS THE ANSWER TO ERROR -- RIGHT DOCTRINE!

• So Paul set about correcting their doctrine,
  which subsequently corrects their thinking.
  
• 2 Thessalonians 23 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

74
PAUL STRESSES

• 2 Thessalonians 23 Let no man deceive you by
  any means
  
• What were the means that had been used to deceive
  them? One, or some, combination of the
  following.
  
• 2 Thessalonians 22 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.

75
NOW! THE MEAT OF THE MATTER

• 2 Thessalonians 23 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
• Please notice the words that day shall not
  come
  

76
HOW IMPORTANT IS THAT STATEMENT?

• that day shall not come
• That statement is HUGE, for it goes directly to
  the Thessalonians problem! They were deceived
  into thinking the Day of the Lord HAD come!
  
• No other statement is this section goes right to
  the problem like, that day shall not come.
  
• Again, its HUGE! But wait! There is a problem!

77
PAULS HUGE STATEMENT

• the singular phrase that directly refutes the
  Thessalonians error isgulp!
  
• IN ITALICS! ITS ITALICIZED! KJV of course
• that day shall not come
• Italicized words are added by the translators!

78
ITALICIZED WORDS ARE

• NOT part of the God-breathed word but are ADDED
  by the translators. Supplied, if, in their
  opinion, the words are needed to make sense in
  English.
• Am I to believe that the most direct refutation
  of the Thessalonians' error -- concerning what
  they believed to be the now occurring, Day of
  the Lord, -- was not even made by God, but was a
  translational addition as demonstrated by the
  italicized words, that day shall not come?

79
HMMM LETS SEE

• The words, that day shall not come, are not in
  any Greek MS. They have definitely been added by
  the translators.
  
• I looked at 25 different Bible translations. Of
  those 25, 21 of them all had the words that day
  shall not come, or words to that effect, added
  to verse 3. Four did not.

80
LETS REMOVE THEITALICIZED WORDS

• First with the italicized words
• KJV 2 Thessalonians 23 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
• Then without
• KJV 2 Thessalonians 23 Let no man deceive you
  by any means for except there come a falling
  away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the
  son of perdition

81
DO YOU SEE IT? THERES SOMETHING MISSING!

• 2 Thessalonians 23-6 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 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. 5 Remember ye not, that, when I
  was yet with you, I told you these things? 6 And
  now ye know what withholdeth that he might be
  revealed in his time.
• Im not referring to the fact that the words are
  literally missing because I removed them, but
  rather, something is missing in the sense of the
  verses without those italicized words. Reread the
  above if you need to.

82
LETS LOOK AT THE FOUR BIBLES THAT OMIT THE WORDS

• The Basic Bible in English
• BBE 2 Thessalonians 23 Give no belief to false
  words because there will first be a falling away
  from the faith, and the revelation of the man of
  sin, the son of destruction, first before what?
  This translation needs to end this verse with
  before the day of the Lord come.
• Notice the bold words. They changed the grammer
  in order to make it work without the italicized
  words. They changed those bold words from the
  KJV, et al, where it says, except there come a
  falling away first - KJV.

83
THE DOUAY-RHEIMSAMERICAN EDITION

• DRA 2 Thessalonians 23 Let no man deceive you by
  any means for unless there come a revolt first,
  and the man of sin be revealed, the son of
  perdition
• Notice how you are left hanging at the end of the
  verse. You sense something is missing but you do
  not know what.

84
Now the NAB

• NAB 2 Thessalonians 23 Let no one deceive you in
  any way. For unless the apostasy comes first and
  the lawless one is revealed, the one doomed to
  perdition,
• Again, we are left dangling as if we are being
  set up to be told something but the something
  is never revealed.

85
NOW THE FOURTH YOUNGS LITERAL TRANSLATION

• YLT 2 Thessalonians 23 let not any one deceive
  you in any manner, because -- if the falling away
  may not come first, and the man of sin be
  revealed -- the son of the destruction,
• And here, for a fourth time, we are left hanging,
  waiting for something we cannot exactly identify.

86
BUT THE YLT IS CLEVER

• They, at least recognize they have missed
  something in the sense of their translation.
  
• So what do they do? They fix it by adding some
  italicized words two verses down! They add these
  words the day doth not come.
  
• But where do they add them? Next verse!

87
LETS LOOK

• YLT 2 Thessalonians 23-4 3 let not any one
  deceive you in any manner, because -- if the
  falling away may not come first, and the man of
  sin be revealed -- the son of the destruction, 4
  who is opposing and is raising himself up above
  all called God or worshipped, so that he in the
  sanctuary of God as God hath sat down, shewing
  himself off that he is God -- the day doth not
  come.

88
AND HOW DID THE KJV PUT IT

• 2 Thessalonians 23 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
• So lets tally up. We have 21 translations that
  add the words that day shall not come, or words
  to that affect.

89
THEN WE HAVE A TRANSLATION

• The BBE Basic Bible in English which does not
  include the italicized words but DOES change both
  the tense and voice to cover for not adding the
  italicized words which is ineffective.
• In other words, they changed the word of God so
  they would not have to add the italicized words
  IMHO.

90
THEN WE HAVE TWO

• translations, the DRA and the NAB, neither of
  which make grammatical changes to hide the
  missing sense, nor do they add the italicized
  words, but rather, they simply leave us wondering
  what is missing.
• Then there is the YLT, which adds the italicized
  words in the next verse.

91
SO WHATS THE SCORE

• Twentyone translations who include in verse 3 the
  words, that day shall not come.
  
• One, the BBE, that changes the grammar so you
  dont sense something is missing.
  
• Two translations, the DRA and NAB, who do not
  supply the italicized words but are honest enough
  to leave you with a sense that something is
  missing.
• And lastly, the YLT, which ends up adding the
  words at the end of the next verse.

92
THE EVIDENCE IS

• overwhelming. The words, that day shall not
  come should be added, and are properly supplied
  by the translators.
  
• Well now wait a minute! If they BELONG THERE, but
  were not PUT THERE, originally, by God, then that
  means that they were INTENTIONALLY left out by
  God! WHY? Why would he do that?

93
ELLIPSIS

• A legitimate figure of speech.
• E.W. Bullinger, in his work, Figures of Speech
  used in the Bible, says specifically that the
  words, that day shall not come, in verse 3, are
  a particular kind of the figure, Ellipsis,
  whereby a whole clause is intentionally omitted.

94
GOD, IN OMITTING

• the words, that day shall not come,
  intentionally makes them a figure of speech and
  what is the purpose of a figure of speech?
  
• TO GRAB OUR ATTENTION!
• IT IS GODS WAY OF SAYING, HEY!

95
HEY!! HEY!! HEY!!

• PAY ATTENTION!!!
• THAT DAY SHALL NOT COME!
• THAT DAY SHALL NOT COME!
• THAT DAY SHALL NOT COME!

96
WHAT WERE THE THESSALONIANS AFRAID OF?

• They were afraid that
• THAT DAY HAD COME!
• So God attacks their error with
• THAT DAY SHALL NOT COME

97
EXCEPT

• That day shall not come EXCEPT!
• 2 Thessalonians 23 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

98
SO NOW WE SEE

• Before the Day of the Lord begins, some things
  have to occur first. In fact, just by way of
  information, a bunch of things have to happen
  first, before the Day of the Lord can arrive.
  For example
• Joel 230-31 30 And I will shew wonders in the
  heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and
  pillars of smoke. 31 The sun shall be turned
  into darkness, and the moon into blood, before
  the great and the terrible day of the LORD come.

99
ANYTHING ELSE - YEAH

• Malachi 45-6 5 Behold, I will send you Elijah
  the prophet before the coming of the great and
  dreadful day of the LORD 6 And he shall turn
  the heart of the fathers to the children, and the
  heart of the children to their fathers, lest I
  come and smite the earth with a curse.
• Yup! Elijah is coming before the DAY OF THE LORD.

100
ANYTHING ELSE WELL YEAH

• Isaiah 139-13 9 Behold, the day of the LORD
  cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger,
  to lay the land desolate and he shall destroy
  the sinners thereof out of it. 10 For the stars
  of heaven and the constellations thereof shall
  not give their light the sun shall be darkened
  in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause
  her light to shine. 11 And I will punish the
  world for their evil, and the wicked for their
  iniquity and I will cause the arrogancy of the
  proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness
  of the terrible. 12 I will make a man more
  precious than fine gold even a man than the
  golden wedge of Ophir. 13 Therefore I will shake
  the heavens, and the earth shall remove out of
  her place, in the wrath of the LORD of hosts, and
  in the day of his fierce anger. THE DAY OF THE
  LORD

101
ANY MORE YEAH, SOME

• Revelation 612-17 12 And I beheld when he had
  opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great
  earthquake and the sun became black as sackcloth
  of hair, and the moon became as blood 13 And
  the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as
  a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is
  shaken of a mighty wind. 14 And the heaven
  departed as a scroll when it is rolled together
  and every mountain and island were moved out of
  their places. 15 And the kings of the earth, and
  the great men, and the rich men, and the chief
  captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman,
  and every free man, hid themselves in the dens
  and in the rocks of the mountains 16 And said
  to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide
  us from the face of him that sitteth on the
  throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb 17 For
  the great day of his wrath is come and who shall
  be able to stand?

102
THE BEGINNING OF THE

• day of the Lord will be marked by tremendous
  signs in the heavens and on the earth, so the
  arrival of the day of the Lord will be evident
  no guessing needed.
• And lets remember in the verses we just read
  that we learned that the day of the Lord is
  also the day of His wrath.

103
AND YOU MAY RECALL

• Romans 59 Much more then, being now justified
  by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath
  through him.
  
• 1 Thessalonians 110 And to wait for his Son
  from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even
  Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to
  come.
• 1 Thessalonians 59 For God hath not appointed
  us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord
  Jesus Christ,

104
SO AT THE VERY LEAST WE CAN SEE A PRE-WRATH
RAPTURE
105
BUT WAIT!

• We are also supposed to see something else before
  the day of the Lord.
  
• 2 Thessalonians 23 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

106
PAUL SAYS THAT

• before the day of the Lord, two things must
  happen in succession. What are the two things?
  
• 1. a falling away first
• and
• 2. that man of sin be revealed

107
WHICH HAPPENS FIRST?

• The falling away, or the revealing of the man
  of sin?
  
• No question about it! The falling away happens
  first.
  
• How do I know that? Im glad you asked.

108
2 THESSALONIANS 23 SAYS

• except there come a falling away first
• That word first is the Greek word, proton,
  and it means
  
• 4412 proton pro'-ton
• Meaning 1) first in time or place 1a) in any
  succession of things or persons 2) first in rank
  2a) influence, honour 2b) chief 2c) principal 3)
  first, at the first

109
THESE TWO EVENTS

• the falling away, and the revealing of the
  man of sin may be separated by some period of
  time or they may occur the one right after the
  other, but one thing is certain, the falling
  away happens first in the sequence.
• Now that brings us to a very controversial issue,
  namely, what exactly is the falling away?

110
APOSTASIA

• The three English words, a falling away, are
  translated from the one Greek word, apostasia
  in 2nd Thessalonians 23.
  
• Finding out exactly what God meant to convey when
  he used this word is crucial to the whole reason
  for writing 2nd Thessalonians 2, 1-8, and, as we
  might expect, anything that is crucial to our
  understanding something will find a great deal of
  devilish mischief surrounding it.

111
BUT LETS WADE IN

• There are three views expounded with regard to
  the meaning of apostasia, as it is used in 2nd
  Thessalonians 23, and lets remember that it is
  translated, a falling away. The views are as
  follows in no particular order.
• 1. That before the man of sin is revealed there
  will be a falling away of Christians.

112
THE SECOND VIEW IS

• 2. That the falling away is that which occurs as
  a result of a future rebellion by Lucifer which
  then issues in the unveiling of his son of
  perdition, the antichrist.
• 3. The third view is that a falling away is a
  poor rendering of apostasia, and that the word
  would be better rendered departure, meaning
  that some sort of departure must occur before
  the son of perdition is revealed.

113
MY VIEW PRIOR TO THIS STUDY

• has been that apostasia should be translated,
  the departure.
  
• However, for the purposes of this study I set
  aside my view and let the evidence speak.
  
• I have no personal preference and desire to
  simply ascertain what God said.

114
I WILL PROVIDE THE EVIDENCE

• and you decide for yourselves.
• Before we examine the evidence I want to warn you
  of one thing. The belief, of various theologians,
  as to the correct translation of apostasia, is
  often clouded by the orthodoxy of various
  parties, and their predisposition, or opposition,
  to a pre-tribulation rapture, or any rapture that
  is separate from the 2nd coming of Christ.

115
NOT TO WORRY THOUGH

• God has so written His word that if we will
  search for the hidden gems, that we as kings are
  entitled to do, and are equipped to do, then we
  will discover the wonderful ways in which God has
  written his word so as to negate His
  interpretation from being prejudiced by a
  particular denomination, theological school, or
  translators orthodoxy.

116
A CAVEAT ON DEFINITONS

• The usage of a word may be distinct and unrelated
  to the actual definition of a word. For example,
  we all know what the word bad means, however,
  there is a usage in our culture where bad means
  good, e.g., That chick is bad!.
• Generally speaking, a word is not defined by its
  usage, but by its definition. The meaning of a
  word may change over time by virtue of the way in
  which a culture uses the word, but its
  definition, generally speaking, will not change.
  Please remember this.

117
APOSTASIA A FALLING AWAY

• The argument for translating apostasia as a
  falling away, seems to have solid scholarship
  behind it.
  
• Of those who believe that this falling away is
  people, and not some special demonic event, there
  is debate over whether believers in the church
  are pictured as falling away from their belief
  in God, or whether a general falling away of
  the whole worlds population is in view.

118
THE CHURCH, THE WORLD, OR LUCIFERIC, WHICH IS IT?

• No matter who you believe the falling away speaks
  of above, one thing is clear.
  
• This event is not just a falling away, but it
  is the falling away, for the Greek supplies the
  definite article the, which is interesting
  because
• In Greek grammar the article is assumed anyway.
  So by God supplying the definite article God is
  making a clear statement.

119
It is THE Apostasia

• God makes it clear that this is a singular,
  one-time event. Not all translations translate
  the Greek article the that God intentionally
  placed to show the emphasis on this being a
  singular event.
• That is unfortunate, and it is poor translation.
  Whether it is the falling away or the
  departure, the the belongs there.

120
HOW THE APOSTASIA IS TRANSLATED IN 34 VERSIONS

• ASV, NKJ, YLT the falling away BBE, K21,
  KJG, KJV, PNT, RWB WEB Webster Bible a
  falling away AMP, CSB, DBY, MSG, NAB, NAS,
  NAU, WEY the apostasy DRA a revolt
  ESV, NET, NIB, NIV, NRS, RSV the rebellion
  MRD a defection NJB the Great Revolt
  NLT a great rebellion CEV people will
  rebel GNT the final rebellion NCV the
  turning away NLV people turn away GNV,
  TNT, - a departing WEB World English Bible
  the departure.

121
THE LEXICON ON APOSTASIA

• My bible software allows me to hold my mouse
  cursor over a word or group of words and see the
  Strongs Concordance Lexical definition of the
  word. The results.

122
A GENEVA BIBLE NOTE

• Notes Geneva Bible Notes
• (1) The apostle foretells that before the coming
  of the Lord, there will be a throne set up
  completely contrary to Christ's glory, in which
  that wicked man will sit, and transfer all things
  that appertain to God to himself and many will
  fall away from God to him.

123
THIS GENEVA BIBLE NOTE

• is very revealing. Why? Lets look at the
  pertinent parts one more time.
  
• (1) The apostle foretells that before the coming
  of the Lord, (1) there will be a throne set up
  completely contrary to Christ's glory, in which
  that wicked man will sit, and (2) transfer all
  things that appertain to God to himself and many
  will fall away from God to him.

124
PUT SIMPLER

• 1. He sits on his throne in Jerusalem, in the
  rebuilt temple
  
• 2. He receives worship intended for God and
  causes many to fall away from God and worship
  him.
  
• ANYBODY SEE A PROBLEM HERE!

125
SEQUENCE, SEQUENCE

• 1. Sits on throne
• 2. Causes many to fall away
• 2 Thessalonians 23 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

126
THE APOSTASIA HAPPENS FIRST, THEN HE SITS

• 2 Thessalonians 23 Let no man deceive you by any
  means 1 for that day shall not come, except
  there come a falling away first, and that man of
  sin be revealed, the son of perdition
• 2 Thessalonians 24 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.

127
WHATEVER THE APOSTASIA IS

• it is FIRST, before the revealing of the man of
  sin, who is revealed when he sits in Gods
  temple, claiming Gods worship.
  
• Remember an earlier slide on the word first in
  the phrase, except there come a falling away
  first?
  
• The word first is proton, the first in a
  succession!

128
THAT MISTAKE MAKES ME A LITTLE SUSPICIOUS

• but never mind, lets continue to examine the
  case for apostasia being translated falling
  away.
  
• You probably do not remember the fact that the
  Strongs definition for apostasia mentioned
  that apostasia appears one other time in the
  New Testament in Acts 2121 where it is
  translated, forsake.

129
ACTS 2121

• Acts 2121 And they are informed of thee, that
  thou teachest all the Jews which are among the
  Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought
  not to circumcise their children, neither to walk
  after the customs.
• The word above, forsake, is translated from the
  Greek word, apostasia. The same word translated
  a falling away in 2nd Thessalonians 23

130
THE CASE FOR A FALLING AWAY IS LOOKING STRONG

• In all cases, any argument made by scholars,
  teachers, and believers, for translating
  apostasia as a falling away, or a
  rebellion, or, apostasy, all reference the
  only other use of apostasia in Acts 2121 where
  it is used to describe forsaking Moses,
  indicating a religious falling away from
  Moses.
• They also use the definitions provided in the
  Lexicons as well as verses in the LXX.

131
THE LXX THE SEPTUAGINT

• The Septuagint is a Greek translation of the
  Hebrew Old Testament produced around 282 BC.
  Hebrew scholars who also knew Greek were invited
  to Alexandria Egypt to produce the LXX.
• The LXX has a few references (a half dozen or so)
  where Hebrew bible verses speak of rebellion
  against God or religion, and in these verses, the
  Greek word, apostasia is used.

132
A COUPLE OF EXAMPLES

• LXE Joshua 2222 God even God is the Lord, and
  God even God himself knows, and Israel he shall
  know if we have transgressed before the Lord by
  apostasy, let him not deliver us this day.
• LXE 2 Chronicles 2919 and all the vessels which
  king Achaz polluted in his reign, in his
  apostasy, we have prepared and purified behold,
  they are before the altar of the Lord.

133
SO OUT OF 35 BIBLES

• why would even three bibles choose to translate
  apostasia as depart, or departure? The
  evidence for a falling away, or, apostasy, or
  a rebellion, seems overwhelming!
• The answer to that question is very interesting,
  and vital to your life. Yes, vital!

134
WHAT DO WE HAVE?

• 1. We have the LXX Greek bible using apostasia
  to translate Hebrew words meaning rebellion
  against God.
  
• 2. We have the only other verse in the New
  Testament which we can look at using the prior
  usage rule, Acts 2121, where apostasia is
  translated as forsake, as in a religious
  forsaking of Moses.
• 3. We have the Strongs definition of apostasia
  as a falling away, defection, apostasy.

135
EVERYONE BUILDS THEIR CASE ON THOSE THREE THINGS,

• which are not unsound! So what made me
  question?
  
• After all, I have settled on the meaning of other
  words with far less research. I would simply look
  at Strongs and move on.
  
• But! In those various cases, I was not detecting
  the putrid aroma of gasp

136
A CONSPIRACY!

• What exactly was bothering me? Was it that I had
  some personal predilection causing me to want to
  see a falling away translated as the the
  departure. NO!
• First, that would not be honest, and I have not
  approached the word of God dishonestly in many
  years.
  
• Was it my desire to see a rapture verse that
  showed us leaving before most of the bad stuff?

137
NO! TO ALL OF THESE!THEN WHAT?

• It was a nnggghhh! A what? A nnggghhh!
• What the hell is a nnggghhh? Im glad you
  asked
• A nnggghhh is a thing I get in my spirit when
  something stinks but I have no idea why. When
  that happens, I just pray, continue to read, and
  do my due diligence.

138
Then I beganto notice things

• Things like the Geneva Bible note we read that
  had the sequence of events backwards, that is,
  they had the AntiChrist being revealed as God,
  and then the falling away. Nothing conclusive
  in itself, but enough for me to say, why were
  they backwards.
• Then there is the subject. Yes, the subject.

139
REMEMBER THE SLIDE WHERE WE SAW THAT THE SUBJECT

• was 2 Thessalonians 21
• Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of
  our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering
  together unto him,
  
• 1. the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ,
• 2. our gathering together unto him,

140
THE SUBJECT, THE STANDARD BY WHICH TRUTH and
ERROR

• must be measured. Everything in this section of
  2nd Thessalonians must comport with the announced
  subject of and be measured by
  
• 1. the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ,
• 2. our gathering together unto him,rapture

141
DID I FIND THAT TO BE THE CASE? NO! HOW SO!

• Im glad you asked! Remember, we measure by
• 1. the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ,
• 2. our gathering together unto him,
• However, when I read verse 3 and following, it
  raised a flag for me. Why?
  
• First of all, notice in verse 1 that the order of
  the phrases are reversed. Jesus does not come,
  and then we are gathered! We are gathered to him,
  and then we come back with him at his 2nd coming!

142
THE REVERSAL OF THIS ORDER GRABBED MY ATTENTION

• You see, the Day of the Lord is synonymous in
  scripture with the 2nd coming of Christ. If you
  are talking about the 2nd coming you are talking
  about the Day of the Lord. If you are talking
  about the day of the Lord you are talking about
  the 2nd coming.
• I saw the reversal in the subject

143
AND THEN I SAW THE REVERSAL AGAIN IN VERSE 3

• 2 Thessalonians 23 for that day shall not
  come, except there come a falling away first,
  
• For that day shall not come! What day? The Day
  of the Lord, that is, Christs coming!
  
• The Day of the Lord/Christs coming is placed in
  sequence in the verse before the apostasia, or
  a falling away. The order they are mentioned is
  in reverse order from their actual occurrence.

144
SO NOW I SEE A PATTERN

• In 2nd Thessalonians 21, the subject
• 1. the 2nd coming of Christ,
• 2. our gathering together rapture,
• And in 2nd Thessalonians 23
• 1. that day the 2nd coming shall not come,
• 2. our gathering together, WHAT!!

145
ARE YOU NUTS?

• I do not see what you see! Ill grant you that
  the italicized phrase in verse 3, that day shall
  not come, is a reference to the Day of the Lord,
  the day of Christs 2nd coming but BUT BUT!
• I see no words after that, or even in the next
  words, except there come a falling away first
  that remotely relate to our gathering together,
  instead we have, a falling away.

146
EXACTLY! EXACTLY!

• We have a subject introduced in verse (1) which
  is Christs coming Day of the Lord and then
  our gathering rapture. Its even introduced
  in REVERSE order with respect to sequence.
• Then, in verse (3) we the same reverse order,
  Christs coming Day of the Lord and then our
  gathering rapture? NO! Thats not what we
  see! We see, instead, Christs coming Day of
  the Lord and then what? A falling away?

147
LETS SEE, OKAY, APPLE/APPLE, then APPLE/BANANA?

• Day of the Lord APPLE then gathering
  together/rapture APPLE in 2nd Thess 21, but in
  2nd Thess 23 we see
  
• Day of the Lord APPLE then falling away
  BANANA? 2 Thess 23
  
• Im expecting everything Paul introduces to
  comport with Gods benchmark, the subject
  introduced in verse (1).
  
• A falling away was NOT introduced in 2nd Thess
  21 as the subject. So why is it there in verse
  23?
  

148
MORE SUSPICIOUS NOW

• but do not have nearly enough authority to
  overturn the great body of evidence supporting a
  falling away as a translation. But I am getting
  more suspicious. Why?
• Because I have done too much research into Gods
  word, and seen the incredible harmony and
  symmetry in the structure of His word to be
  comfortable with apostasia as a falling away.

149
WE GO DEEPER

• The word apostasia itself is a compound of two
  Greek words, apo, meaning from and istemi,
  meaning stand. So in its literal sense, it is
  a standing away from, and would be defined as
  away from, or departure.
• So where does a falling away come from? Good
  question. Lets look at the Lexicons

150
BDAG Lexicon
Sounds like a falling away to me
151
THAYERS LEXICON
NOTICE THIS COMMENT! AHA! THE FIRST RAY OF LIGHT!
152
LIDDELL-SCOTT LEXICON

• Notice the words late form of and the slight
  difference in the words. Also notice this Lexicon
  provides the definition of defection. A much
  more general term and more accurate, I would say.

See it! This is a late form of this! So lets
look at the earlier form.
153
LIDDELL-SCOTT LEXICON

• The earlier, original form.

LITERAL DEFINITION
FIGURATIVE USAGE by Thucicides
LITERAL USAGE by Euripides
LITERAL USAGE by Plato