Reply to Chondra: RE: Is English Translation (Bible) Wrong or Correct?
http://www.fivedoves.com/letters/march2013/chondram34.htm
Hi Chondra,I want to preface my answer to you by saying I am not Pretrib, however that doesn't mean that I believe we won't have the Open Door rapture event happen very soon. I believe we're in the Beginning of Sorrows, or Birth Pangs now and we are fast approaching the Abomination of Desolation which I am expecting on Obama's trip to Israel. Quite frankly, I'll be surprised if it doesn't happen!
Regarding 2 Thess 2:3, apostasia means apostasy, i.e. falling away from the faith. The problem isn't with the translations, they are correct. Many proponents of a Pretribulation Rapture have a serious problem with this verse because it really contradicts their Pre-Seven Year position. They try to make it mean the rapture, i.e. falling up to heaven, or departure up to heaven (should only be used as "departure from the faith"). However, Apostasia g646 just doesn't mean the rapture. I believe the Apostle Paul is giving the Abomination of Desolation as a precursor to the "gathering together " which is why he was telling the Thessalonians not to be "shaken in mind or troubled" that it may have already occurred or was "at hand".
2 Thess 2:1-4 KJV "Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and [by] our gathering together unto him, That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means: for [that day shall not come], except there come a falling away (Apostasia g646) first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple (naos g3485) of God, shewing himself that he is God.If you click on the naos link above, you will see there is no whole rebuilt temple required by this word. It gives several options. I believe that the Near fulfillment for this was in 70 A.D. by Prince Titus and the Far fulfillment by the Antichrist doesn't require a rebuilt Jewish temple. In fact, it could even happen at the Dome of the Rock!
Certainly we've seen Apostasy occurring already, but this event will trigger Apostasy on a scale never seen before. God will send the "strong delusion" which is the Antichrist receiving a mortal head wound, then being resurrected from the dead indwelt by Satan, then proclaiming himself Messiah/God at the temple mount in Jerusalem. This will be witnessed by the world via television, and the majority will believe the "lie" and will worship the satanically indwelt Antichrist as Messiah/God. The 144,000 remnant of the Jews will flee into the wilderness. The actual number who flee could be much higher with the 144,000 being among them. The two witnesses will also appear.
2 Thess 2:6-10 KJV "And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth [will let], until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked (one) be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: [Even him], whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved."
Who is the restrainer? Since the Holy Spirit is Omnipresent, I take the view that it is Michael, the archangel. We this in Daniel 12:1.
Daniel 12:1 KJV "And at that time shall Michael stand up (or aside), the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, (Great Tribulation) such as never was since there was a nation [even] to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book."
Daniel 12:6-7 KJV "And [one] said to the man clothed in linen, which [was] upon the waters of the river, How long [shall it be to] the end of these wonders? And I heard the man clothed in linen, which [was] upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that [it shall be] for a time, times, and an half (Three and one- half years); and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these [things] shall be finished."Rev 12:13-17 'And when the dragon (Satan) saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman (the faithful remnant of Israel, who will not worship Antichrist) which brought forth the man [child] (Jesus). And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished (and protected by God) for a time, and times, and half a time (Three and One-half years), from the face of the serpent. And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood. And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth. And the dragon was wroth with the woman (she's out of reach), and went to make War with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.' (Born Again Christians in the Great Tribulation)
The Born Again Christians have not come to Christ by the 144,000 as some teach, because the group of 144,000 is not created until they flee at the Abomination of Desolation, and at this point they are hiding in the wilderness. So, we have proof that Born Again Christians are still here until at least this point shortly past the Abomination of Desolation.
YBIC,Bill Griese