For years I had total faith in a pre-tribulation Rapture. While attending Liberty Seminary I researched and prepared a paper with evidence supporting that same belief. Then one day I listened to a Pastor on television while he explained the great “falling away”. He explained why he believes the falling away will be due to Christians “falling away” from Christ and His Word after the Tribulation and End Times begin and while they are still on Earth. No rapture! No catching up! The ones who trusted in the Rapture will be shocked, confused, and will lose their faith and their trust in Christ. The Pastor’s sermon brought doubt into my mind and spirit concerning whether or not a pre-tribulation Rapture could be true. I prayed, studied, and sought counsel hoping to come to a definite conclusion of what I believed to be the Truth. In my heart of hearts I questioned what I believe to be the Truth; will Christ takes us out of here and spare us the wrath to come?

Then the answer I was searching for came through a Christian television show that features Pastors answering questions from viewers. The viewer’s question was concerning the Rapture and if it would be Pre-Tribulation, Mid, or Post. One of the Pastors asked why so many “make the answer to this question so difficult”. He referred to the Holy Spirit being removed from the earth and the fact that Jesus told us He would send a Comforter, and He would not leave us orphan. In other words, and according to the Bible: “Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition (2 Thessalonians 2:3 NKJV). For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed (2 Thessalonians 2:7-8 NKJV). More research was needed.

My research revealed the passages translated into Greek are as follows: “(Let) not anyone deceive you by (in) any way; because unless comes the apostasy (rebellion) first and be revealed the man of lawlessness, the son of destruction (2:3). For the mystery already is working of lawlessness; only (there is) one holding (it) back just now until out of (the) midst (way) He is gone. And then will be revealed the lawless one. (2 Thessalonians 2: 7-8 Greek English Interlinear New Testament).

Sounds different in the Greek, wouldn’t you say? Falling away in the NKJV is apostasy (rebellion) in the Greek. The Rapture is not a “rebellion” therefore 2 Thessalonians 2:3 does not refer to a catching up or the Rapture. A rebellion or falling away from Christ in the End times before the anti-Christ is revealed seems to better explain the meaning of the verse. When you think about it that describes a period of time similar to what we are experiencing in our world today. Falling away from Jesus, rebelling against the Word of God and everything it represents in our society. The lawlessness is going on in the world when “He is gone”. When the Holy Spirit is taken out of this world, or He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed (2:7-8). Can we imagine a world without the Holy Spirit? The Holy Spirit is here on earth now and so are the believers in Christ. Just how long “He who now restrains” will continue to restrain, only God knows. Jesus made a promise to His followers that He would not leave us orphan. Therefore for the Holy Spirit to be taken out of the way indicates we are no longer here. Thus the Rapture. Blessings.