Not so fast with the apostasy

“A falling away” is the casting out of Satan from heaven

By Craig C. White

The Greek word “apostasia” is translated as “a falling away” in 2Thessalonians 2:3 below. Most Christians assume that apostasia refers to the apostasy of the Church. But hold on one minute. The word apostasia may have a little different meaning than you first thought. A falling away actually refers to the casting out of Satan from heaven.

2Thessalonians 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 Greek word “apostasia” is used three times in its masculine form in Mat 5:31, Mat 19:7, and Mar 10:4. In these three verses “apostasia” always means “divorce”. Apostasia is used twice in its feminine form in Acts 21:21, and 2Th 2:3. It is translated as “forsake” and as “a falling away”.

Interestingly the root of the Greek word apostasia comes from these two words.

1) aphistēmi

Phonetic: af-is’-tay-mee

Thayer Definition:

to make stand off, cause to withdraw, to remove
to excite to revolt
to stand off, to stand aloof
to go away, to depart from anyone
to desert, withdraw from one
to fall away, become faithless
to shun, flee from
to cease to vex one
to withdraw one’s self from, to fall away
to keep one’s self from, absent one’s self from

Strong’s Definition:

to remove, that is, (actively) instigate to revolt; usually (reflexively) to desist, desert, etc.: – depart, draw (fall) away, refrain, withdraw self.

And also from this word:

2) apo

Phonetic: apo’

Thayer Definition:

of separation
of local separation, after verbs of motion from a place, i.e. of departing, of fleeing,
of separation of a part from the whole
where of a whole some part is taken
of any kind of separation of one thing from another by which the union or fellowship of the two is destroyed
of a state of separation, that is of distance
physical, of distance of place
temporal, of distance of time
of origin
of the place whence anything is, comes, befalls, is taken
of origin of a cause
Origin: a primary particle

Strong’s Definition:

A primary particle; ” off”, that is, away (from something near), in various senses (of place, time, or relation; literally or figuratively): – (X here-) after, ago, at, because of, before, by (the space of), for (-th), from, in, (out) of, off, (up-) on (-ce), since, with. In composition (as a prefix) it usually denotes separation, departure, cessation, completion, reversal, etc.

So in its most basic form the word apostasia means to actively cause something to be removed away from some place near. Just like God will cause Satan to be removed from heaven.

Now let’s think about this. The Apostle Paul gave the early Church two events that must happen before the Tribulation begins. Namely a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed. Since these two events have not yet happened they are also signs to the Church that the Rapture has not yet occurred. If apostasy of the Church is a sign of the Rapture then how do we know when there is enough apostasy? There has always been apostasy in the Christian Church. That isn’t much of a sign. Besides, in some parts of the world many people are turning to Christianity. Many Christians are being killed for their faith. These martyrs haven’t fallen away from their faith. So the end time must not be near. Not so. The end time is near. It is upon us but the apostasy of the Church isn’t the sign.

I don’t tell you this because I want to be right. I am telling you because I think that we may all soon witness a bright shining light streaming through space towards earth as Satan is cast out of heaven. As a matter of fact we may witness several bright shining lights streaming through space towards earth as Satan’s demons follow. When you see the bright shining light hurtling through space towards earth, recognize it as Satan falling. Know that Jesus will follow closely behind.

Here is something to consider. Ezekiel chapter 38 says that Turkey will lead Iran, Libya, and Sudan into Israel. All of these nations are fighting in Syria. Jeremiah 49:23 says that the destruction of Damascus will begin at Hamah and Tell Rifaat in northwestern Syria. The Turkish Army is amassed near Hamah and Tell Rifaat now. Turkish President Erdogan is threatening to attack. I think that Turkey will attack northwestern Syria and then march southward to destroy Damascus. Then Turkey will lead the forces that are now fighting in Syria into northern Israel. The Golan Heights are only thirty miles away from Damascus. Nahum chapter 1 describes Jesus Christ coming in a fiery whirlwind to the Golan Heights. I think that Jesus will return to cause the Turkish led invaders to retreat when they enter the Golan Heights of Israel. I think that Jesus will collect his Church at that time. I think that Satan must be cast out of heaven before Turkey invades northern Israel.

Read my commentary titled The Fall of Satan and Rise of the Antichrist

Read my book The Fall of Satan and Rise of the Antichrist

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