Hello Quasar92,
As much as I would like that verse to say that the "apostasia" is referring to the living believers being caught up, I cannot. To do so would be to greatly bend the word to make it mean that. The only other place that it is used, is in Acts 21:21 which is a departure from the law of Moses:
" They have been informed that you teach all the Jews who live among the Gentiles to turn away from Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children or live according to our customs."
"Departure" is just one of the possible translations of apostasia, but it cannot be used to mean departing into the wild blue yonder. The only way that it could be used would be a departure from the faith, not being caught up.
Furthermore, it is not a matter of how it was used in previous translations, but what the actual Greek word is defined as:
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apostasia: defection, revolt
Original Word: ἀποστασία, ας, ἡ
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: apostasia
Phonetic Spelling: (ap-os-tas-ee'-ah)
Short Definition: defection, apostasy
Definition: defection, apostasy, revolt.
"646 apostasía (from 868 /aphístēmi, "leave, depart," which is derived from 575 /apó, "away from" and 2476 /histémi, "stand") – properly, departure (implying desertion); apostasy – literally, "a leaving, from a previous standing."
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Previously, the Holy Spirit used the word "Harpazo," to convey the idea of being "caught up" into the air which he used when Paul was "caught up" to the third heaven, when Philip was "caught away" by the Spirit and when the Male Child is "snatched up" to God's throne. If meaning here in 2 Thes.2:3 was to depart up into the sky to meet the Lord, the Spirit would have used "Harpazo" and not "apostasia," for it cannot be used to convey the meaning of being snatched up.
I would also remind you that, God is the author of his word and not men. That said, God is not going to allow men to falsely translate his word. Now, the following verses 2 Thes.2:5-8 demonstrate that the restrainer must be taken out of the way before the full force of sin can be unleashed and that man of lawlessness be revealed, which would refer tot he Holy Spirit being removed and the church with Him and then the man of lawlessness will be revealed. So, I do believe that the church must be removed prior to the man of lawlessness, that antichrist, is revealed. However, as much as I have tried, I have never been able to force the word "apostasia" to convey the meaning of departing into the air, but only a departure from the faith.
Greetings Ahwatukee,
Your views contradict the historical record pertaining to the translation history and application of of 2 Thess.2:3. Which is the major reason why so many are led astray by those who altered the original translation for the purpose of satisfying their own personal belief system. The following comes from the studies of Thomas Icw, PhD, and fully endorsed by the others, listed at the bottom of my post.
Review the following link I posted in 322 by Thomas Ice, PhD, fully supporting it, below:
The Thomas Ice Collection
Translation History of apostasia and discessio in 2 Thess.2:3: By Thomas Ice, PhD.
The first seven English translations of apostasia all rendered the noun as either " departure" or " departing." They are as follows: Wycliffe Bible (1384); Tyndale Bible (1526); Coverdale Bible (1535); Cranmer Bible (1539); Breeches Bible (1576); Beza Bible (1583); Geneva Bible (1608) . This supports the notion that the word truly means " departure." In fact, Jerome' s Latin translation known as the Vulgate from around the time of 325 A.D. renders apostasia with the " word discessio, meaning ' departure.' Why was the King James Version the first to depart from the established translation of "departure" in 1611 A.D.? [It is more than likely due to overzealous RCC scribes who altered the original wording of vs 3. to accommodate their teachings of Amillenialism, which rejects both the pre-trib rapture of the Church as well as Jesus Millennial reign her on earth].
The theme of the entire passage from verse 1 through 8, is verse 1, which is about a rapture of the Church, not aapostasy or a falling away.
2 Thess.2:1 "Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers,"
2 Thess.2:1 is a direct reference to 1 Thess.4:17.
1 Thess.4:17 "After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.
2 Thess.2:3 "Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the
departure [rapture of the Church] comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction,"
2 Thess.2:7 "For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so
till he [the Church] is taken out of the way." [raptured].
[Parenthesis mine]
322 is fully endorsed by the following:
1. Frank L. Gaebelein, A.M., Litt.D., Headmaster Emiritus, The Stoney Brook School; 2. William Culbertson, D.D., L.L.D., President, Moody Bible Institute; 3. Charles L. Feinberg, ThD., PhD., Dean, Talbot Theological Seminary; 4. Allan A. Mac Rae, A.M., PhD., President, Biblical School of Theology; 5. Clarence E. Mason, Jr., Th.M., D.D., Dean, Philadelphia College of Bible; 6. Alva J. Mc Clain, Th.M., D.D., President Emeritus, Grace Theological Seminary; 7. Wilbur M. Smith, D.D., Editor, Peloubet's Select Notes; 8. John F. Walvoord, A.M., Th.D., President, Dallas Theological Seminary; 9. C.I. Scofield, D.D., Editor, Scofield Bible; 10. Editorial Committee Chairman, J. E. Schuyler English, Litt.D.
Chuck Missler, Koinonia House, Charles Stanley, Baptist minister, Zola Levitt, Levitt's Ministries, Miles Weiss, Zola Levitt's Ministries, Moishe Rosen, Jew's For Jesus Org., David Bickner, Jew's For Jesus Org., Mitch Glaser, His Chosen People Minisries Dwight Pentecost, Dean at Dallas Theological Seminary, Harold Wilmington, Dean at Liberty Seminary, Arno Froese, Editor and CEO of Midnight Call Ministries, Thomas Ice, PhD., Author, Jack Van Impe, TV Ministry, Tim Le Haye, Author, Jerry Fallwell, Baptist minister, Billie Graham, TV ministry, Franklin Graham, TV ministry, Dr. Ron Carlson, Dr. Wilfred Hahn, Dave Hunt, Ed
Quasar92
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