Greg Alston (19
Sep 2021) "Garry's Sep 12 Post
on Falling Away"
Dear Garry,
With all due respect, I must
disagree with your assertion that Satan is the one who is
falling away in 2
Thessalonians 2:3 (Sep 12 post), and that he is the restrainer
mentioned in
verses 6 and 7.Also,
that Revelation
12:4 is a companion verse to 2 Thessalonians 2.
You do, however, rightly say that
the “falling away” is not what most Christians think it is.The word APOSTASIA
in 2 Thessalonians 2:3
refers to a physical departure
(as
opposed to spiritual), but it’s not the departure of Satan.The “departure” in
verse 3 is a reference to
what Paul just said in verse 1, “our gathering together to
him.”The Wuest
Bible and the AMPC state that He
Apostasia in verse 3 IS NOT a falling away from the faith but
rather a physical
departure from earth:“Do not begin
to allow anyone to lead you astray in any way, because
that day shall not come
except the aforementioned departure [of
the Church to heaven] comes first and the man of
lawlessness is disclosed [in
his true identity], the son of perdition."This
translation is supported by J. Vernon
McGee, Dr. Andy Woods, Chuck Missler and Dr. John Walvoord, to
name a few.
The Greek word,
APOSTASIA (Strong’s #646)
derives from the root APHISTEMI (Strong’s #575).Of the 15 N.T.
usages of this word, 13
describe physical movement from one location to another, in
the sense of
Genesis 35:13.It
does not mean “falling
away.”
Earliest
versions of the Bible translated
APOSTASIA in 2 Thessalonians 2:3 as “departure”:
Tyndale(1534)
Coverdale (1535)
Geneva Bible (1537)
Cranmer (1539)
Beza(1565)
Revelation 12:4
is not
a “falling away,” but rather a “casting down.” It occurs at
mid-trib which,
according to your construct, would put the Rapture at
mid-trib.I offer
a comprehensive study of Revelation
12 in my August 8, 2021 5-Doves letter, Petra:
Israel’s City of Refuge.
Satan cannot restrain Satan.In the words of Jesus, “A house divided against itself
cannot stand.”