Here are some numbers and meanings that should help bible students understand the meaning of the word APOSTASIA in 2 Thes 2.
APOSTASIA and its cognates appear over 220 times in the LXX. They have a variety of meanings. 66 times in the LXX the meaning is a physical, spatial departure or separation from someone or something. 53 times it is used of a religious departure, and only 8 times it refers to a political departure.
I point out these numbers because often times you hear that APOSTASIA means a religious departure from the faith most of the time. That does not bear true for the Greek Old Testament.
Bet you got this nonsense from Thomas Ice lately?
That's because you are "reading into " this word a "departure into heaven" that is not written there, nor implied in any sense of the context. The word literally means to desert or separate (which could be described as departing), and by extension or implication, to forsake something or someone. Just as this Greek word is translated "forsake" in another place in Acts. eg:
Acts 21:21
- "And they are informed of thee, that thou teachest all the Jews which are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs."
The Bible "being its own interpreter," we see that the word [
apostasia] is clearly used here to denote his instruction to the people to "forsake" or "depart" (turn away from) the teaching that one must be circumcised. Clearly, it denotes a
forsaking doctrines, or
departing from (what they considered)
the word of Moses. In the final analysis, we have to remember that the Bible is its own dictionary and interpreter. Not Webster, nor Concordance Commentaries, nor Greek scholars for that matter.
To forsake is in some sense to abandon or depart from something or someone. If I forsake my friends, then I have in some sense departed from them. Even if we're still in the same room or at the same table. So it doesn't denote physically leaving. But that's not even the real issue they have. The real issue is that their
theory is that "this" forsaking or separation means rapture, and without one shred of Biblical justification. There really is no mystery to the word, but we know people will always look for ways to twist both the Hebrew and Greek to conform to their own personal/private interpretations and beliefs. So we always have to "Beware of gifts bearing Greek!"
Again, the word literally means breaking away from, or separating from. For example, as in separating from doctrines, from lifestyles or divorcing oneself from another. In fact, if you look up the Greek word divorcement in the New Testament, you will find its [apostasion], the feminine of which
is [apostasia]. So where is the mystery? Its a separating from. The falling away (Apostasy) is the separation from the truth, the forsaking of the Christian faith, which is manifested by the sinful man ruling in the Lord's house. And the context of 2nd Thessalonians 2 all but declares this clearly, and commands the faithful to
"stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle." In other words, when you see this,
don't you forsake the truth, but stand fast, remain faithful to the word delivered unto you.
Therein is the mystery between the man of sin, and the man of righteousness. The man seeking to rule in God's stead, and the man under rule of God. The man who holds fast the faith, and the man that departs from the faith.
...but if you think any of this will change anyone's mind, it won't. Their problem is not the Greek word [
apostasia], but the doctrine of rapture before the end of the world. Its doctrine,
and receiving it, not Greek.
1st Timothy 4:1
- "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;"
The seducing spirit of the Antichrist Harlot is among us, the apostasy is among us, the departing is among us, the forsaking is among us. But we are still here.
Also, the word [
apostasia] is also found in the The Septuagint ,and in every instance means
religious defection. Defection in this context means to abandon a position, doctrine, ideology or association, often to join an opposing group or ideology. For example, you've heard of Chinese defecting to the United states, right? They have abandoned their allegiance, ideology or association with China to embrace or join another ideology, association or residence. Well, in religion its the same. Where one abandons their previous ideologies (beliefs) or associations. i.e., to "forsake" or separate oneself from certain beliefs. Not a physical departure from the planet Earth to the air.
Selah!
