The Apostasy

Paul warned of the coming Apostasy and linked it to the unveiling of the Man of Anarchy when he seats himself in the Assembly.

Paul responded to false reports about the “Day of the Lord” by pointing to the expected Apostasy and the “Man of Lawlessness.” Jesus will not “arrive” until the “Apostasy” occurs and the “Lawless One” is revealed. Rumors claiming that the “Day of the Lord had set in” were circulating in Thessalonica, disrupting the Assembly – (2 Thessalonians 2:1-12).

[Abandoned Church - Photo by Dan Meyers on Unsplash]

Scriptural references to this final apostasy are frequent 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 – (Luke 18:1-8).

The passage in 2 Thessalonians includes verbal parallels to Christ’s-teachings in the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. For example, about the “arrival (‘Parousia’) of our Lord Jesus Christ, and our gathering together 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 Christ’s words comparing 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’ query 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” is another link to Christ’s teachings. “Many false prophets will arise, and deceive many. And because lawlessness 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 deceive the world, but to cause the downfall of believers, God’s “elect,” and their betrayal of 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.” This “Lawless One” is coming to destroy the Body of Christ – (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12).

THE 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 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 of this Master Deceiver 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).

• “The Son of Destruction, he who opposes and exalts himself against all that is called God or that is worshipped; so that he seats himself in the Sanctuary of God, presenting himself as God” – (2 Thessalonians 2:4).

In Daniel, the “indignation” refers to the attack of 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.” To avoid this, the saints must cling tenaciously to “sound teaching” - (1 Timothy 4:1, 2 Timothy 3:13).

Peter likewise warns of “false prophets” and “false teachers” who will propagate false doctrines and otherwise cause havoc in the Assembly, “making 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, the Son of Destruction,” the Little Horn with the “mouth speaking great things” – (Revelation 13:1-6).

This Master Deceiver will be “energized by Satan” to perform “signs and deceitful wonders” designed to trick believers into rejecting “the love of the truth.” We have been forewarned repeatedly by Jesus and his Apostles.

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SEE ALSO:

• Missing Events - (Two events must occur before the Day of the Lord comes, the Apostasy and the unveiling of the Man of Lawlessness)

• The Coming Storm - (The New Testament warns of a future apostasy caused by deceivers and the Lawless One before the Day of the Lord arrives)

• Antichrists in the Church - (Throughout the present age, the Church is being plagued by deceivers from within who are sent to destroy the Body of Christ)

• Howling Imposters - (The New Testament repeatedly warns of coming deceivers and false prophets who will cause many disciples to depart from the faith)