Prior Book | Prior Chapter | Prior Verse | Next Verse | Next Chapter | Next Book | Viewing NASB and Amplified 2015 | |
NASB | 2 Thessalonians 2:3 Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | 2 Thessalonians 2:3 Let no one in any way deceive or entrap you, for that day will not come unless the apostasy comes first [that is, the great rebellion, the abandonment of the faith by professed Christians], and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction [the Antichrist, the one who is destined to be destroyed], [Dan 7:25; 8:25; 1 Tim 4:1] |
Bible Question:
Recently, I've been studying about the apostacy from a Biblical perspective and an historical one. I'd be interested in what exactly is the common view among most Bible students on this subject. What is the apostacy? Please based your discussions on what the Bible says about it. At the very least, I assume most of you will include 1 Tim 4:1. God bless you all. --Rowdy |
Bible Answer: Part 2 of 2 (3) Examples of actual apostasy can be found in Ex 32; 2Ki 17:7—23; Ps 106; Isa 1:2—4; Jer 2:1—9; Ac 1:25; Gal 5:4; lTi 1:18—20; 2Pe 2:1,15,20—22; Jude 4,11—13; see article on THE AGE OF THE ANTICHRIST, p. 1872, for comments on apostasy predicted to occur within the professing church in the last days of this age. (4) The steps that lead to apostasy are as follows: (a) Believers, through unbelief, fail to take the truths, exhortations, warnings, promises and teachings of God’s Word with utmost seriousness (Mk 1:15; Lk 8:13; In 5:44,47; 8:46). (b) As the realities of the world become greater than the realities of God’s heavenly kingdom, believers gradually cease to draw near to God through Christ (Heb 4:16; 7:19,25; 11:6). (c) Through the deceitfulness of sin, they become increasingly tolerant of sin in their own lives (lCo 6:9—10; Eph 5:5; Heb 3:13). They no longer love righteousness and hate wickedness (see Heb 1:9, note). (d) Through hardness of heart (Heb 3:8,13) and rejecting God’s way (3:10), they ignore the repeated voice and rebuke of the Holy Spirit (Eph 4:30; lTh 5:19—22). (e) The Holy Spirit is grieved (Eph 4:30; cf. Heb 3:7—8 and his fire put out (lTh 5:19) and his temple violated (lCo 3:16). He eventually departs from the former believers (Jdg 16:20; Ps 51:11; Ro 8:13; lCo 3:16-17; Heb 3:14). (5) If apostasy continues on its course unchecked, individuals may eventually reach the point when no second beginning is possible. (a) Those who once had a saving ex-perience with Christ but deliberately and continually harden their hearts to the Spirit’s voice (Heb 3:7—19), continue to sin willfully (Heb. 10:26), and refuse to repent and return to God may reach a point of no return where repentance and salvation are no longer possible (Heb. 6:4—6; see Dt 29:18-21, note; 1Sa 2:25, note; Pr 29:1, note). There is a limit to God’s patience (see 1Sa 3:11—14; Mt 12:31—32; 2Th. 2:9—11; Heb. 10:26-29,31; lJn. 5:16). (b) This point of no return cannot be defined in advance. Therefore, the only safeguard against the danger of ultimate apostasy is found in the admonition: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts” (Heb. 3:7—8,15; 4:7). (6) It must be emphasized that while apostasy is a danger for all who drift from the faith (Heb. 2:1—3) and fall away from God (6:6), it is not made complete without constant and willful sinning against the voice of the Holy Spirit (see Mt 12:3 1, note on sin against the Holy Spirit). (7) Those who by unbelieving hearts depart from God (Heb. 3:12) may think they are Christians but their indifference to the demands of Christ and the Spirit and the warn-ings of Scripture points otherwise. Because of this possibility of sell-deception, Paul urges all those claiming salvation to “examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves” (2Co 13:5, note). 8 Those who genuinely become concerned about their spiritual condition and find in their hearts the desire to return to God in repentance have sure evidence they have not committed unpardonable apostasy. Scripture clearly affirms that God does not want anyone to perish (2Pe 3:9; cf. Isa 1:18-19; 55:6-7) and declares that God will receive all who were once under saving grace if they repent and return to him (compare Gal 5:4 with 4:19; 1Co 5:1—5 with 2Co 2:5—11; see also Lk 15:11—24; Ro 11:20—23; Jas 5:19—20; Rev 3:14—20; note the example of Peter, Mt 16:16; 26:74-75; Jn 21:15—22). Reference - Full Life Study Bible, Zondervan Publishing House Grand Rapids Mich, editor Donald Stamp. Pg 1918 |