The Apostasy

Paul warned of the future Apostasy and linked it to the unveiling of the Man of Anarchy, the Son of Destruction.

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” until the “Apostasy” occurred and the “Lawless One” was revealed. Rumors claiming that the “Day of the Lord had set in” had circulated in Thessalonica, disrupting the Assembly – (2 Thessalonians 2:1-12).

Scriptural references to this apostasy are frequent, loud, and ominous. Perhaps behind them are Christ’s words, “When the Son of Man comes, will he find the faith on the earth?” In the original passage, the Greek sentence includes the definite article or “the.” Jesus was referring to “the faith,” not faith in general, from which believers will depart – (Luke 18:1-8).

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The passage in 2 Thessalonians includes verbal parallels to Christ’s-teachings recorded in the gospels of 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).

• “Now, we implore you touching the arrival (‘Parousia’) of our Lord Jesus Christ, and our gathering together unto him, to the end, you be not quickly shaken from your mind, nor yet be troubled, either by spirit, or by word, or by epistle as from us, as that the day of the Lord has set in.  Let no man deceive you in any respect, for it will not be, except the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction” - (2 Thessalonians 2:1-3).

Paul’s statement reflects the words of Jesus when he compared his future 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 his elect from one end of heaven to the other” – (Matthew 24:27-31).

Paul told the Thessalonians not to be “troubled… so that no one may deceive you.” Jesus responded likewise to the disciples’ questions about the destruction of the Temple and his return at 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” will not begin until the “apostasy comes, and the Man of Lawlessness is revealed.” The term “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 to “stumble and betray one another.” Moreover, “Many false prophets will arise and deceive many… Then will arise false anointed ones and false prophets, and they will show great signs and wonders to deceive even the elect.” Deceivers will not come to hoodwink the already deceived world, but to cause the downfall of believers, their apostasy from the true faith – (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).

In short, this “Lawless One” is coming to destroy the Body of Christ and trick as many believers as possible into abandoning the apostolic traditions.

THE APOSTASY

The Greek term translated as “apostasy” represents the noun ‘apostasia’ (Strong's Concordance, #G646), 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 biblical figure behind this “Man of Lawlessness” is the evil ruler described in the Book of Daniel as the “Little Horn,” the “King of fierce countenance,” the “Leader,” and the “Contemptible One.” Paul’s description in 2 Thessalonians alludes to the passage in Daniel:

• “And the king will do according to his will, and he will exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and will speak marvelous things against the God of gods, and he will prosper till the indignation be accomplished; for that which is determined will be done” – (Daniel 11:36).

In Daniel, the “indignation” refers 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 with “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” - (1 Timothy 4:1, 2 Timothy 3:13).

Peter likewise warns us against “false prophets” and “false teachers” who propagate false doctrines and otherwise cause havoc in the Assembly and “make merchandise” of the saints - (2 Peter 2:1-3).

Before Jesus returns, his Church will experience the “Apostasy” as individual saints and perhaps entire congregations embrace the lies of deceivers, “false prophets,” “false anointed ones,” and “false apostles,” and especially the “Lawless One.”

This Master Deceiver will be “energized by Satan” to perform “signs and wonders” designed to fool believers so they will reject “the love of the truth.” We have been forewarned repeatedly by Jesus and his Apostles.

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SEE ALSO:

• Disinformation - (Rumors about the Day of the Lord caused alarm and confusion in the Thessalonian congregation – 2 Thessalonians 2:1-2)

• The Great Day - (Jesus will arrive to gather his people to himself on the Day of the Lord, and in the New Testament, this event becomes the Day of Christ)

• Two Pivotal Events - (Two events must occur before the Day of the Lord begins - The Apostasy and the unveiling of the Man of Lawlessness)

• Événements Manquants - (Deux événements doivent se produire avant que le Jour du Seigneur ne commence : L'Apostasie et le dévoilement de l'Homme d'iniquité)