"THE FALLING AWAY"

"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." (II Thessalonians 2:3) What does the term "falling away" as used in this verse refer to? And is this "falling away" partial or total?

The Greek word which was translated as falling away in the King James Version is _πoστασ_α (apostasia). Thayer defines the word as "a falling away, defection, apostasy; in the Bible namely from true religion." In Strong's it is defined as a "defection from truth ["apostasy"]:-falling away, forsake." From these definitions it seems clear that the "falling away" refers to a time when Christians will forsake God.

Most other translations render apostasia as rebellion, instead of falling away. A few examples are: "For the Day will not come until the final Rebellion takes place and the Wicked One appears." (Today's English Version) "For [that day will not come] until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed." (NIV) "That day cannot come before the final rebellion against God, when wickedness shall be revealed in human form, the man doomed to perdition." (New English Bible)

But the question still remains as to whether the falling away was complete or if only part of the church was involved. There are many verses of scripture which can help us determine this.

The first thing is to establish the fact that Christ's kingdom was established during the first century. "From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." (Matthew 4:17) If the kingdom was at hand, then it was to be established very soon. "But I tell you of a truth, there be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the kingdom of God." (Luke 9:27) This leaves no doubt that the kingdom would be established during the lifetime of some of those listening to Jesus. Then Paul let's us know that the kingdom had already been established during his day. "Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son." (Colossians 1:13) The kingdom was established on the Day of Pentecost. The kingdom is the Lord's church.

There are many passages which give us insight as to the duration of the kingdom. "And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever." (Daniel 2:44) This verse says the church, which is the kingdom, would never be destroyed. That is, it would never cease to exist.

Other passages indicate the same thing. "And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed. I Daniel was grieved in my spirit in the midst of my body, and the visions of my head troubled me. I came near unto one of them that stood by, and asked him the truth of all this. So he told me, and made me know the interpretation of the things. These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth. But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever." (Daniel 7:14-18) "And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him." (Daniel 7:27)

When the Angel of God spoke to Mary about the child she was to bear he said this: "And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. (Luke 1:33) If indeed the idea that the church was lost for centuries was true, there would have been a beginning (the Day of Pentecost), an end (the falling away), and another beginning (a restoration). But the angel said there would be no end to His kingdom. Therefore the conclusion is that His kingdom, the church, has never ceased to exist, even for a moment of time.