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The Warning Against Apostasy
2 Thessalonians 2
One of the major subjects relevant to the Christian life and to the study of prophecy is "the falling away," often called "the apostasy." The Scriptures reveal that a time would come when professing Christians would fall away from the faith, love would grow cold, and sound doctrine would not be generally taught or endured (Matt. 24:12; 1 Tim. 4:1; 2 Tim. 3:1, 4:3). The second and third chapters of Revelation reveal that five of the seven churches addressed will be found in various states of rebellion prior to the Lord’s coming.
In 2 Thess. 2, the apostle Paul discusses apostasy in the context of its relationship to the events surrounding the day of the Lord and our gathering together with Him.
Apostasy Precedes "That Day"
The nature of Paul's words reveals his concern and frustration. Someone was trying to convince the Thessalonians that the day of the Lord had already arrived, and had consequently shaken their "composure" (2:2). To prevent deception (2:3), the apostle points to key events that must precede the day of the Lord (2:3-8):
• The coming of apostasy (i.e., "falling away")
• The man of lawlessness to be revealed (2:3)
• The man of lawlessness to present himself as God (2:4)
Holding Fast Prevents Apostasy
The apostle offers evidence that should convince the Thessalonians that the day of the Lord had not arrived (2:6-7). He does this by presenting them with the fact that a condition prevails in the church which is the opposite of apostasy. To describe this condition the apostle chooses a word, "hold fast," which was also used by the Lord Jesus to describe the opposite of apostasy (Luke 8:13-15). The Thessalonians were familiar with this word and the condition that it communicated since the apostle had previously used it when he wrote "hold fast to that which is good" (1 Thess. 5:21 κατέχετε). He notes the Thessalonian experience of "holding fast" (2 Thess. 2:6 τὸ κατέχον) as evidence that the apostasy has not yet occurred. [The writer to the Hebrews also used this word to express the opposite of apostasy, Hebrews 3:14]
A Problem for Us (Not the Thessalonians)
Unfortunately, the Greek is difficult to translate in 2 Thess.2:6-7, and there are consequently many different translations of these key verses. A plausible translation of verses 6-7 that would preserve the context could read:
6καὶ νυν τὸ κατέχον οἴδατε εἰς τὸ ἀποκαλυφθη ναι αὐτὸν ἐν τῳ̂ ἑαυτου καιρῳ̂. 7τὸ γὰρ μυστήριον ἤδη ἐνεργει ται της ἀνομίας· μόνον ὁ κατέχων ἄρτι ἕως ἐκ μέσου γένηται. (some accents not reproduced or reproduced incorrectly)
Black, Matthew ; Martini, Carlo M. ; Metzger, Bruce M. ; Wikgren, Allen: The Greek New Testament. Third edition (Corrected). Federal Republic of Germany : United Bible Societies, 1983, S. 2 Th 2:5
"And now you know the experience of holding fast, which means that he, the man of sin, will be revealed in his own time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already working; only he who holds fast now is effective until he is out of the midst" (2:6-7). ("Until he is out of the midst" is a way of stating "until those who hold fast are not central in the church.") "And then that lawless one will be revealed" (2:8). (Italics added for clarity.)
In other words, the apostle is effectively saying:
"You Thessalonians are holding fast, a condition which is the opposite of apostasy. Thus the man of lawlessness will be revealed at another time. Lawlessness is already working, but the man of lawlessness will not be revealed until the one who holds fast is no longer characteristic of the church."
Revelation of the Lawless One
In verse 8, the apostle again discusses the revelation of the man of lawlessness. In verse 3, he had stated, "the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed." Now, having finished discussing apostasy (2:6-7), he concerns himself with the man of lawlessness (2:8-12).
No Mysterious Restrainer
Some believe that the Holy Spirit is presented here, the Holy Spirit is viewed as restraining the appearance of the man of lawlessness, and the man of lawlessness will appear when the Holy Spirit is taken out of the world.
However, the context does not support the Holy Spirit as the subject of verses 6 or 7, and no other passage of Scripture teaches that the Holy Spirit will be taken out of the world before or during the day of the Lord.
In addition:
• No other Scripture refers to the Holy Spirit as "he who now restrains" (NASB).
• The Scriptures do teach that the Holy Spirit is present among men on earth before and during the day of the Lord. Mark 13:11, Acts 2:17-21 cf: Joel 2:28-32, Zech 12:10, Ezek. 39:29 cf: Ezek. 37:14.
• The work and ministry of the Holy Spirit is apparent on earth during the tribulation in Rev. 11, which describes two witnesses who "prophesy for twelve hundred and sixty days" (11:3). Read in light of 2 Pet. 1:21, "no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God," Rev. 11 begs the conclusion that the two witnesses are moved by the Holy Spirit who is present in them.
• 2 Thess. 2:7 does not say that anyone is "taken" anywhere. Of the dozens of times that this common Greek word is translated in the New Testament, this is the only passage where "taken" appears. (Compare the translation in the Revised Standard Version.)
• Even if the Holy Spirit were the "restrainer" that is "taken," neither the English translations nor the Greek text indicate that He is taken out of the world. Such an interpretation would be a suggestion or hypothesis, but not the clear teaching of the passage.
Paul said, "the apostasy comes first and then the man of lawlessness..." He did not then turn around and say, "the Restrainer gets removed first and then the man of lawlessness..." We cannot have it both ways. He either said: Apostasy results in the rise of the man of lawlessness... [or] Removal of the Restrainer results in the rise of the man of lawlessness....
One method of translating the passage says God causes the rise of the man of lawlessness by removing His church with His Spirit (call it the "Restrainer error"). The other method of translating the passage says that the church is responsible for the rise of the man of lawlessness because of her apostasy, not her rapture.
The spiritual condition of the people of this world is the responsibility of the church. We are to be the salt and light that the Lord Jesus sent out into the world to be. If we stop doing our job, if we apostasize, then the man of lawlessness will arise to do his work. His rise is not to be falsely portrayed as caused by God taking His Holy Spirit away from the earth, or the Spirit in the Church from the earth. He baptised His church in His Spirit to evangelize the earth, not vacation, then cut and run! Conclusion
As the apostle concludes his remarks in this section of his letter, he states, "So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught" (2:15). Such a concluding remark is consistent with a discussion wherein Paul labored to make the point that the Thessalonian experience of holding fast was that which would insure against apostasy, and was current proof that apostasy and the day of the Lord had not arrived.
If we fail to read and understand from the Scriptures the relationship between holding fast and apostasy, then we are bound to discover the relationship between apostasy and the day of the Lord.
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