Satan must fall from heaven and then empower the Antichrist to do false signs and wonders before the Tribulation begins.
Do you disagree?
By Craig C. White
I know that most Bible teachers say that the “falling away” in 2Thessalonians 2:3 is either the apostasy of the Church or the leaving of the Church from earth and the taking away of the Holy Spirit at the Rapture. BUT I don’t agree at all. The Apostle Paul isn’t telling us anything new in 2Thessalonians 2. He is referencing Old Testament Prophets in order to tell us the timing of the Tribulation.
2Th 2:3 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.
The Christians in Thessalonica were worried that they had missed the Rapture. They were asking Paul if the Tribulation had begun. It makes no sense for Paul to tell them that the Tribulation hadn’t come because the Rapture hadn’t come. That piece of information doesn’t help Christians to identify the beginning of the Tribulation because if the Rapture happened then they would be gone. Paul referenced the Old Testament Prophets Daniel, Ezekiel, and Isaiah when he said that Satan must fall from heaven to earth and then empower the Antichrist to do false signs and wonders before the Tribulation begins. Now those events are something that Church age believers can recognize even if they occur before the Rapture!
Isa 14:12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!
Eze 28:17 Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee.
Paul even directs the Christians in Thessalonica to rely on the Old Testament writings and on his letters in order to determine the timing of the Tribulation.
2Th 2:15-17 Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle. 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, 17 Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.
The message of 2Thessalonians 2:3 is simple. The Tribulation will not begin until Satan falls from Heaven to Earth and then the Antichrist is revealed.
I think that you will agree that Satan must fall before he can empower the Antichrist. It makes sense. Now if you could only see that Paul has been telling us that all along.
High Time to Awake 
That is an interesting thought on 2 Th. 2:3. I agree with you that Satan must fall from heaven per Rev. 12:9, but the Greek (falling away) of 2 Th 2:3 is “apostasia”, a defection from Truth. We need to be aware that that will take place.
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Hi Gay. My point is that 2Thessalonians 2:3 is not talking about a departure from the faith but the departure of Satan from heaven.
https://hightimetoawake.com/the-fall-and-rise-of-the-antichrist/
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I have to disagree with you on this one. The use of the Greek word apostasia for falling away in 2 Th 2:3 makes it clear that this is referring to a falling away or departure from the Truth/faith. It is the meaning of the Greek word. It is where our word apostasy comes from. It does not mean to physically fall down or a departure from a physically higher place to a lower. This can be compared to Luke 10:18 where Jesus says He saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Here the Greek word piptō is used, which has the meaning of falling down, to descend from a higher place to a lower. The Greek is much more specific than our English translation.
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In 2Thessalonians Paul isn’t telling us anything new. He isn’t creating a new doctrine. He is referencing Old Testament prophets. He tells us so in 2Thessalonians 2:15. A falling away is the casting out of Satan from heaven to earth.
2Thessalonians 2:15 Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.
Please read my commentary titled The Fall of Satan and Rise of the Antichrist https://hightimetoawake.com/the-fall-and-rise-of-the-antichrist/
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