Strong’s Concordance
apostasia: defection, revolt
Original Word: ἀποστασία, ας, ἡ
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: apostasia
Short Definition: defection, apostasy
Definition: defection, apostasy, revolt.
The Argument as presented by some pre-Trib. Teachers –The word can also mean a separation from a previous state; “a one time event having nothing to do with faith; it is translated Divorce three times in scripture.”
So accepting that it has this other meaning or understanding — how do we determine it’s use. If we consider divorce even it has to do with the breaking of a faith commitment. The argument presented by these Dispensationalists will state that the understanding of the word usage here is based on the context in which it is used. And that in this passage it means Rapture and the removing of oneself from the danger of the Tribulation. Who can argue with that? The Great Tribulation is certainly a dangerous place for any believer to be found. Scripture itself makes that clear. There are men and women present who worship Jesus, yet we hear that they can’t be part of the church? So is the argument valid for seeing the Rapture in this Second Thessalonians passage?
When we look strictly at context, then we must ask: are they not interpreting the passage in light of their own understanding of the timing for the rapture; rather than the other way around, where the context helps us understand better the Rapture?
The context for the Rapture establishes it’s timing based on other events occurring surrounding it.
No one believing in literal scriptures interpretation sees it other than the separation from the earth of believers at Jesus coming. The Rapture has been stated within the context of Paul’s writing to follow the resurrection, and to occur on the day of the Lord’s coming. He told us in 1 Thess. 5, that we would not be caught by surprise when Jesus comes as a thief in the night on the Day of the Lord. A day that actually begins with darkness. Then he tells us in 2 Thess. 2, that two things will happen allowing us to know when this day of the Lord is coming. Can this be why we won’t be surprised?
It is here that he describes an apostasy to precede the day. It is this apostasy occurring surrounding the timing of the Antichrist’s appearance that will serve to warn us, because, both the events listed in 2 Thess 2 definitely will occur before the day of the Lord and His coming as a thief. This Paul has already told us in 1 Thess. 5.
The problem with their thinking is obvious to me and I hope will become obvious to you. It not only ignores previous context from Paul, but requires us to accept a contradiction on their own part in order for us to make it to their interpretation.
All Dispensationalists believing in a pre-Trib Rapture will first attempt to make the strong case for the seven year Tribulation to be a part of the day of the Lord (making the day a 1007 year day rather than a 1000 year day as it is otherwise recorded in scripture as the Millennium). This allows for their rapture to take place before or at the very coming of the Day of the Lord as Paul stated it to happen in 1 Thess. 5, and thus by adding the seven years, it is also before the Tribulation. This then is also why some want to make the apostasy equal to the Rapture rather then equal to a falling away from the faith. For then it can be claimed that Rapture is before Tribulation.
But by so doing they totally miss lead on Paul’s teaching in this passage. The coming day of the Lord is the subject of these verses from which they derive Rapture from apostasy. But this day of the Lord will not come until two things happen. Let’s forget the apostasy for this consideration, and focus just on the coming of Antichrist. This person (Antichrist) is the one Representing Great Tribulation. He comes in the midst of it. Therefore his appearance not only comes before this day of the Lord; but it also represents that the Tribulation is also before the day of the Lord, and can’t be included with it making it 1007 years. That being true; then the Day of the Lord must come sometime after the middle of the Tribulation when Antichrist is revealed. This is in fact the best argument for a mid-Trib Rapture, but it is the other mid-Trib arguments that fail scriptures test. So the context of these verses on Rapture in 1&2 Thessalonians certainly will eliminate any possibility of a pre-Trib rapture.
Secondly, let me say that this is an obvious and confusing twist to the actual meaning that they are applying to the word apostasy in this passage. What Paul is trying to clear up is confusion about the day of the Lord. What some Dispensationalist’s are trying to do with “apostasy” of course can only be done if the Rapture is tied directly to the day of the Lord (which it of course is), and this then makes an imminent return which they teach impossible, because this days coming is complete with signs given for its coming.
So their thinking in reality (the pre-Trib thinking of imminence) cannot accept signs before the Rapture. Why, because their rapture teaching does not tie the Rapture itself to the Bible’s definition of the Day of the Lord. Their teaching places it at least 7 years prior, some even teach it could have occurred at any time after the founding of the Church. But Paul’s own writing to these same Thessalonians in 1 Thess 5 does make the Raptures context about the Day of the Lord, and His coming as a thief. So yes the day of the Lord includes the Rapture, but that is only true if the Rapture is post-Trib. And this then is where they have fallen into a deep trap.
The argument presented in this passage by all pre-Trib scholars is that Jesus coming as a thief in the Rapture and His coming in the clouds are two different events. Thus they force other passages to meet that scenario. The clouds coming of our Lord is to them the Great army of saints representing His Glorious Appearing to Earth when every eye will see Him.
But both His coming as a thief and His coming in the clouds are related in scriptures context to this coming Day of the Lord and to the end of Tribulation. His thief coming is divulged in relation to Armageddon in Rev. 16:15. Armageddon is immediately before the day of the Lord.
We also know that the Glorious appearing occurs to begin the Day of the Lord and it begins the Millennium which is that day. Why do we know this? — Joel tells us that the earth will be in total darkness before the day of the Lord. Listen:
behold, I am going to arouse them from the place where you have sold them, and return your recompense on your head. Proclaim this among the nations: Prepare a war; rouse the mighty men! Let all the soldiers draw near, let them come up! Beat your plowshares into swords And your pruning hooks into spears; Let the weak say, “I am a mighty man.” Hasten and come, all you surrounding nations, And gather yourselves there. Bring down, O Lord, Your mighty ones. Let the nations be aroused And come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat, For there I will sit to judge All the surrounding nations. Put in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Come, tread, for the wine press is full; The vats overflow, for their wickedness is great. Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision. The sun and moon grow dark And the stars lose their brightness. The Lord roars from Zion And utters His voice from Jerusalem, And the heavens and the earth tremble. But the Lord is a refuge for His people And a stronghold to the sons of Israel.
Joel 3:7,9-16 NASB
YES, DARKNESS and ARMAGEDDON go together; the harvest and the wine press none of these are unfamiliar characteristics of the prophetic signs concerning THE DAY OF THE LORD, these are stated to be the conditions just before the Lord returns in Isaiah, Revelation and in Jesus’ accounting in Matthew and in Mark. So Paul says in 1 Thess 5, that His coming (as a thief IN THE NIGHT) is on the Day of the Lord, making this His coming after Tribulation even as Jesus described it in Matthew and Mark. Paul here says as a thief. Making it one event the resurrection and Rapture that he had just described in the preceding verses in chapter 4.
So is the pre-Trib argument valid based on context?
I write these articles and expect those few who read them to share them if you consider them worthy. Very little of that is being done and so the popular message, to escape a Tribulation that will surely come, is still the main theme for the church. My thinking is that this condition will be the actual catalyst for the falling away from the faith spoken of in this passage that will come in these last days — not because I said it, but because the scripture says it. Jesus said it.
Rapture advocates, study to show yourself approved. Following is the complete Strong’s discourse on the word Apostasia.
Strong’s Concordance
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.
HELPS Word-studies
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
the aorist (pronounced /ˈeɪ.ərɨst/ or /ˈɛərɨst/) is a class of verbforms that generally portray a situation as simple or undivided, that is, as having perfective aspect
Use of a perfective aspect, however, does not imply a punctiliar or short-lived action. It simply “presents an occurrence in summary, viewed as a whole from the outside, without regard for the internal make-up of the occurrence.” [2]
And Then Messiah Shall Come 