2 Thessalonians 2:2-3
King James Version
2 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.
3 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;
From the verse above, we understand "the day of Christ" is at hand.
We also understand that a "falling away" will come FIRST.
What does "falling away" mean?
What are we to expect?
To get a better understanding, I checked various Bible versions:
2 Thessalonians 2:2-3
Amplified Bible
2 not to be quickly unsettled or alarmed either by a [so-called prophetic revelation of a] spirit or a message or a letter [alleged to be] from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has [already] come. 3 Let no one in any way deceive or entrap you, for that day will not come unless the [a]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],
2 Thessalonians 2:2-3
Christian Standard Bible
2 not to be easily upset or troubled, either by a prophecy[a] or by a message or by a letter supposedly from us, alleging that the day of the Lord[b] has come. 3 Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way. For that day will not come unless the apostasy[c] comes first and the man of lawlessness[d] is revealed, the man doomed to destruction.
2 Thessalonians 2:2-3
Common English Bible
2 We don’t want you to be easily confused in your mind or upset if you hear that the day of the Lord is already here, whether you hear it through some spirit, a message, or a letter supposedly from us. 3 Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way. That day won’t come unless the rebellion comes first and the person who is lawless is revealed, who is headed for destruction.
2 Thessalonians 2:2-3
Complete Jewish Bible
2 not to be easily shaken in your thinking or anxious because of a spirit or a spoken message or a letter supposedly from us claiming that the Day of the Lord has already come. 3 Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way.
For the Day will not come until after the Apostasy has come and the man who separates himself from Torah has been revealed, the one destined for doom.
2 Thessalonians 2:2-3
Contemporary English Version
2 not to be easily upset or disturbed by people who claim the Lord[a] has already come. They may say they heard this directly from the Holy Spirit, or from someone else, or even that they read it in one of our letters. 3 But don't be fooled! People will rebel against God. Then before the Lord returns, the wicked[b] one who is doomed to be destroyed will appear.
2 Thessalonians 2:2-3
Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition
2 That you be not easily moved from your sense, nor be terrified, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by epistle, as sent from us, as if the day of the Lord were at hand.
3 Let no man deceive you by any means, for unless there come a revolt first, and the man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition,
2 Thessalonians 2:2-3
Easy-to-Read Version
2 Don’t let yourselves be easily upset or worried if you hear that the day of the Lord has already come. Someone might say that this idea came from us—in something the Spirit told us, or in something we said, or in a letter we wrote. 3 Don’t be fooled by anything they might say. That day of the Lord will not come until the turning away from God happens. And that day will not come until the Man of Evil appears, the one who belongs to hell.[a]
2 Thessalonians 2:2-3
Expanded Bible
2 ·Do not [We ask/request that you don’t] become ·easily [quickly] ·upset [unsettled; shaken] in your thinking or ·afraid [disturbed; alarmed] if you hear that the day of the Lord has already come [C the time of Christ’s return and the judgments associated with it]. Someone may have said this ·in a prophecy [L by a spirit; or by the Spirit] or ·in a message [or by word of mouth] or in a letter as if it came from us [C a forged letter]. 3 Do not let anyone ·fool [deceive] you in any way. That day of the Lord [v. 2] will not come until the ·turning away from God [great rebellion; apostasy; Matt. 24:11–12; 1 Tim. 4:1; 2 Tim. 3:1–5; 2 Pet. 2:3; Jude 18] happens and the Man of ·Evil[a] [Wickedness; L Lawlessness; C probably the Antichrist; 1 John 2:18; Rev. 13], ·who is on his way to hell [L the son of destruction; John 17:12], appears.
2 Thessalonians 2:2-3
1599 Geneva Bible
2 [a]That ye be not suddenly moved from your mind, nor troubled neither by [b]spirit, nor by [c]word, nor by [d]letter, as it were from us, as though the day of Christ were at hand.
3 Let no man deceive you by any means: [e]for that day shall not come, except there come a departing first, and that [f]that man of sin be disclosed, even the son of perdition.
2 Thessalonians 2:2-3
Good News Translation
2 not to be so easily confused in your thinking or upset by the claim that the Day of the Lord has come. Perhaps it is thought that we said this while prophesying or preaching, or that we wrote it in a letter. 3 Do not let anyone deceive you in any way. For the Day will not come until the final Rebellion takes place and the Wicked One appears, who is destined to hell.
2 Thessalonians 2:2-3
Holman Christian Standard Bible
2 not to be easily upset in mind or troubled, either by a spirit or by a message or by a letter as if from us, alleging that the Day of the Lord[a] has come. 3 Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way. For that day will not come unless the apostasy[b] comes first and the man of lawlessness[c] is revealed, the son of destruction.
2 Thessalonians 2:2-3
International Children’s Bible
2 Do not become easily upset in your thinking or afraid if you hear that the day of the Lord has already come. Someone may have said this in a prophecy or in a message. Or you may read it in a letter that someone tells you came from us. 3 Do not let any person fool you in any way. That day of the Lord will not come until the turning away from God happens. And that day will not come until the Man of Evil[a] appears. He belongs to hell.
2 Thessalonians 2:2-3
J.B. Phillips New Testament
Before Christ’s coming there will be certain signs
2 1-4 Now we do implore you, by the very certainty of Christ’s coming and of our meeting him together, to keep your heads and not be thrown off balance by any prediction or message or letter purporting to come from us, and saying that the day of Christ is almost here. Don’t let anyone deceive you by any means whatsoever. That day will not come before there arises a definite rejection of God and the appearance of the lawless man.
2 Thessalonians 2:2-3
Living Bible
Please don’t be upset and excited, dear brothers, by the rumor that this day of the Lord has already begun. If you hear of people having visions and special messages from God about this, or letters that are supposed to have come from me, don’t believe them. 3 Don’t be carried away and deceived regardless of what they say.
For that day will not come until two things happen: first, there will be a time of great rebellion against God, and then the man of rebellion will come—the son of hell.
2 Thessalonians 2:2-3
The Message
The Anarchist
Don’t let anyone shake you up or get you excited over some breathless report or rumored letter from me that the day of the Master’s arrival has come and gone. Don’t fall for any line like that.
3-5 Before that day comes, a couple of things have to happen. First, the Apostasy. Second, the debut of the Anarchist, a partner in crime with Satan
2 Thessalonians 2:2-3
Names of God Bible
2 Don’t get upset right away or alarmed when someone claims that we said through some spirit, conversation, or letter that the day of the Lord has already come. 3 Don’t let anyone deceive you about this in any way. That day cannot come unless a revolt takes place first, and the man of sin, the man of destruction, is revealed.
2 Thessalonians 2:2-3
New Catholic Bible
2 do not become too easily thrown into confusion or alarmed, either by something spiritual or by a statement or by a letter claiming to come from us, alleging that the Day of the Lord is already here.[a] 3 Let no one deceive you in any way.
The Adversary and the Obstacle.[b] That Day cannot come[c] before the final rebellion occurs and the lawless one is revealed, the son of destruction.
2 Thessalonians 2:2-3
New Century Version
2 Do not become easily upset in your thinking or afraid if you hear that the day of the Lord has already come. Someone may have said this in a prophecy or in a message or in a letter as if it came from us. 3 Do not let anyone fool you in any way. That day of the Lord will not come until the turning away[a] from God happens and the Man of Evil,[b] who is on his way to hell, appears.
2 Thessalonians 2:2-3
New International Reader's Version
2 What if you receive a message that is supposed to have come from us? What if it says that the day of the Lord has already come? If it does, we ask you not to become easily upset or alarmed. Don’t be upset whether that message is spoken or written or prophesied. 3 Don’t let anyone trick you in any way. That day will not come until people rise up against God. It will not come until the man of sin appears. He is a marked man. He is headed for ruin.
2 Thessalonians 2:2-3
New Life Version
2 do not be troubled in mind or worried by the talk you hear. Some say that the Lord has already come. People may say that I wrote this in a letter or that a spirit told them. 3 Do not let anyone fool you. For the Lord will not come again until many people turn away from God. Then the leader of those who break the law will come. He is the man of sin.
2 Thessalonians 2:2-3
New Living Translation
2 Don’t be so easily shaken or alarmed by those who say that the day of the Lord has already begun. Don’t believe them, even if they claim to have had a spiritual vision, a revelation, or a letter supposedly from us. 3 Don’t be fooled by what they say. For that day will not come until there is a great rebellion against God and the man of lawlessness[a] is revealed—the one who brings destruction.[b]
Kehillah in Thessalonika II 2:2-3
Orthodox Jewish Bible
2 that you not become too hastily disturbed from your spiritual composure nor frightened either by a ruach or by a dibur (saying, utterance) or by an iggeret (letter), as if from us, saying that the YOM HASHEM (Day of the L-rd, AMOS 5:18) has come.
3 Let no one in any way lead you astray, because, unless the Merid (Rebellion, Revolt, the [Anti-Moshiach] Shmad Betrayal Defection of Apostasy, the Azivah Abandonment) Desertion comes rishonah (first), and the Apocalypse of the Ish HaMufkarut (Man of Lawlessness), the Ish HaChatta’ah Ben HaAvaddon (Man of Sin, Son of Destruction Anti-Moshiach) is unveiled.
2 Thessalonians 2:2-3
Revised Standard Version
2 not to be quickly shaken in mind or excited, either by spirit or by word, or by letter purporting to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. 3 Let no one deceive you in any way; for that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness[a] is revealed, the son of perdition,
2 Thessalonians 2:2-3
Worldwide English (New Testament)
2 Do not let your minds be easily upset. Do not be troubled by a spirit, or a message, or a letter. Do not be troubled if you hear that the day of the Lord has already come. Some people will say it came from us.
3 Do not let anyone fool you in any way. Before the day of the Lord comes, many people will stop believing God. The Man of Evil will be seen. He is the evil one who will be destroyed for ever.
2 Thessalonians 2:2-3
Wycliffe Bible
2 that ye be not moved soon from your wit, neither be afeared [neither be aghast], neither by spirit, neither by word, neither by epistle as sent by us, as if the day of the Lord be nigh.
3 [That] No man deceive you in any manner. For but dissension come first [For no but departing away, or dissension, shall come first], and the man of sin be showed, the son of perdition,
In SUMMARY, the "falling away" will reveal TWO things:
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]
the apostasy[c] comes first and the man of lawlessness[d] is revealed, the man doomed to destruction
the rebellion comes first and the person who is lawless is revealed, who is headed for destruction
the Apostasy has come and the man who separates himself from Torah has been revealed, the one destined for doom
People will rebel against God. Then before the Lord returns, the wicked[b] one who is doomed to be destroyed will appear
there come a revolt first, and the man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition
the turning away from God happens. And that day will not come until the Man of Evil appears, the one who belongs to hell
the ·turning away from God [great rebellion; apostasy; Matt. 24:11–12; 1 Tim. 4:1; 2 Tim. 3:1–5; 2 Pet. 2:3; Jude 18] happens and the Man of ·Evil[a] [Wickedness; L Lawlessness; C probably the Antichrist; 1 John 2:18; Rev. 13], ·who is on his way to hell [L the son of destruction; John 17:12], appears
there come a departing first, and that [f]that man of sin be disclosed, even the son of perdition
the final Rebellion takes place and the Wicked One appears, who is destined to hell
apostasy[b] comes first and the man of lawlessness[c] is revealed, the son of destruction
the turning away from God happens. And that day will not come until the Man of Evil[a] appears. He belongs to hell
there arises a definite rejection of God and the appearance of the lawless man
there will be a time of great rebellion against God, and then the man of rebellion will come—the son of hell
First, the Apostasy. Second, the debut of the Anarchist, a partner in crime with Satan
a revolt takes place first, and the man of sin, the man of destruction, is revealed
the final rebellion occurs and the lawless one is revealed, the son of destruction
the turning away[a] from God happens and the Man of Evil,[b] who is on his way to hell, appears
the man of sin appears. He is a marked man. He is headed for ruin
many people turn away from God. Then the leader of those who break the law will come. He is the man of sin
there is a great rebellion against God and the man of lawlessness[a] is revealed—the one who brings destruction
the Merid (Rebellion, Revolt, the [Anti-Moshiach] Shmad Betrayal Defection of Apostasy, the Azivah Abandonment) Desertion comes rishonah (first), and the Apocalypse of the Ish HaMufkarut (Man of Lawlessness), the Ish HaChatta’ah Ben HaAvaddon (Man of Sin, Son of Destruction Anti-Moshiach) is unveiled
the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness[a] is revealed, the son of perdition
many people will stop believing God. The Man of Evil will be seen. He is the evil one who will be destroyed for ever
dissension come first [For no but departing away, or dissension, shall come first], and the man of sin be showed, the son of perdition
This "falling away", BEFORE the day of CHRIST, is also described here:
2 Timothy 3:1-7
King James Version
3 This know also,
that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves,
covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers,
disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers,
incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4 Traitors, heady, highminded,
lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5 Having a form of godliness,
but denying the power thereof:
from such turn away.
6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses,
and lead captive silly women laden with sins,
led away with divers lusts,
7 Ever learning,
and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
Related material:
How WE KNOW It is the LAST Days
On Knowing the Enemy of Christ
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