We had a post on Saturday that said the rapture cannot
occur until... (1) there is a falling away and (2) the
man of sin is revealed who identifies himself as the
Antichrist by going into the temple claiming to be
God.

That would mean to stop expecting any rapture because,
of course, there is no Temple in Jerusalem. We are
years away from that, so all expectancy for Christ's
return is removed. Bad idea! - the servants that
thought like that were surprised when their Lord
returned at an hour they were ready and watching for
him.

The problem with the mid-Trib rapture analysis of 2
Thessalonians is that those conditions are not the
prerequisites to the rapture, but are instead the
prerequisites to the "day of Christ", meaning his
'day' of wrath on the world, i.e., the period of the
Great Tribulation leading to his return. This is the
last half of the tribulation, the time of the most
extreme judgements.

In other words, the folks in Thessalonica were afraid
that they were already entering the tribulation (v.
2), and Paul is saying "don't worry, it's not the
Tribulation yet, many things must happen first."

But the real zinger are verses 6 and 7 were Paul says
that the Great Tribulation's triggering events
(Apostasy & Antichrist) cannot occur because they are
being held back by something in the world that must
first be taken away. Paul does not identify it by
name, but this is where we assume he means the Holy
Ghost's special presence in the Church. It is
therefore the apostasy of verse 2 that is the same as
the deception in verses 10-11. Between them are verses
6-7 which is the event of "taken away out of the way"
- which is the rapture of the Church. This Rapture is
reinforced by Paul in verses 13 and following.

I view ANYONE who changes the words of the Holy Bible
with EXTREME suspicion! This is scripture; we have to
believe it just as it is written - without making any
changes to fit our pet theories.

There are those who alter "day of Christ" in verse 2
to "day of the Lord" and then say that they are
different days. SAME DAY: Jesus Christ is LORD!

We also have some now who are trying to change the
apostasy of "falling away" in verse 3 to "departure,"
to put the rapture more explicitly into the passage.
That is also wrong as the post on Saturday pointed out
(i.e., "the rapture cannot happen until the rapture
happens" is redundant).

We also have those who change, "is at hand" to "has
already come" - changes, changes, changes!! I don't
want to put my faith in fallen man's changes. God
promised to preserve his word for us, even to refine
it many times to give it to us in a way that we can
trust: so Believe the Bible - not the Bible changers.
See Psalm 12.

Let's not change the Bible! Jesus TESTIFIED that if
anyone takes a word out of the Bible they WILL BE
REMOVED FROM BOOK OF LIFE!!! (See Revelation
22:18-19). That is very scary, and not a place for
playing any games.

Here is the relevant text of 2 Thessalonians, chapter
2:

2:01 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of
our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together
unto him,

2:02 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.

2:03 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;

2:04 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.

2:05 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I
told you these things?

2:06 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be
revealed in his time.

2:07 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work:
only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken
out of the way.

2:08 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:

2:09 Even him, whose coming is after the working of
Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,

2:10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in
them that perish; because they received not the love
of the truth, that they might be saved.

2:11 And for this cause God shall send them strong
delusion, that they should believe a lie:

2:12 That they all might be damned who believed not
the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

2:13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for
you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath
from the beginning chosen you to salvation through
sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:

2:14 Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the
obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2:15 Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the
traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word,
or our epistle.

2:16 Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even
our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us
everlasting consolation and good hope through grace,

2:17 Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every
good word and work.