RE:Clay Cantrell (22 Sep 2012)
"Apostasy or Departure, 2 Thessalonians 2:3"Clay, the first verse reads:1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, (rapture)
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.(tribulation)
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;
When Paul gets to the 3 verse he is telling us (imho) that 2 things have to happen first (before the rapture, and tribulation begins), a falling away and AC being revealed.
It would not makes sense if he was saying "before the rapture happens", 2 things have to happen first---a rapture and AC being revealed.
In the context it is written, it reads much more as "before the rapture and tribulation" 2 things have to happen first; the great apostasy (falling from faith) and revealing of AC. Then you will have a rapture and tribulation will follow.
Just my opinion...God Bless!