Yes, apostasy refers to a falling away from revealed truth, but Les Feldick teaches it also means the departure of the church before the Tribulation.
In 2 Thessalonians 2:3, the Greek word apostasia is translated 'falling away' in the KJV, but it can also mean 'departure.' Les Feldick emphasizes that this departure is the rapture of the church, which must occur before the day of the Lord and the revelation of the Antichrist.
2 Thessalonians 2:3 — This verse directly addresses apostasy and its role in end-times chronology.
In 2 Thessalonians 2:3, Paul warns that the day of the Lord (the tribulation) will not come 'except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition.' The King James Version translates the Greek word apostasia as 'a falling away,' but Les Feldick notes that many early translations and the Amplified Version render it 'the departure.' This departure is understood by Les as the removal of the church before the Antichrist is revealed.
Les Feldick teaches that the Greek word apostasia in 2 Thessalonians 2:3 is better translated 'departure' rather than 'falling away.' He points out that the King James translators made a 'glaring mistake' here, causing confusion. He cites early English translations like Tyndale and Geneva that used 'departure,' as well as Greek scholar Kenneth Wuest. Les interprets this departure as the rapture of the church, which must occur before the Tribulation begins and the Antichrist is revealed. He observes that the church is currently being removed and that we are approaching this event rapidly.
Les Feldick explains that the KJV translates apostasia as 'falling away,' but he believes this is a mistranslation. He prefers 'departure' because the same Greek word is translated 'depart' eight times elsewhere in the New Testament. This departure refers to the church being taken out of the world before the Tribulation.
Les Feldick teaches that the Tribulation is a Jewish period where law and grace cannot mix. He argues that grace (the church) must be removed so that God can resume His dealing with Israel under the law. He uses the example of the Thessalonian believers who feared they had missed the rapture, and Paul reassures them that they hadn't because the departure and the revelation of the Antichrist must come first.
Yes, Les Feldick teaches that the departure is the believer's removal from earth to heaven. He says, 'We're suddenly going to be gone from this place to the other.' This is the rapture of the church, which he believes is imminent.
Who Holds Back the Antichrist? The Restrainer Removed.
the law, and if ever I have any argument that we will not go into the tribulation, it's that one purpose right there. You cannot mix law and grace so that grace cannot go into the Jewish economy as it will pick up again in the seven -year tribulation. It has to be removed so that they cannot be mixed.
Amplified Translation
Les teaches that the Amplified Bible correctly translates apostasia as 'departure' rather than 'falling away.'
KJV Mistake
Les points out that the King James translators made a 'glaring mistake' in translating apostasia as 'falling away.'
Departure of Believers
Les explains that the departure refers to believers being suddenly taken from earth to heaven, which is the rapture.
Early Translations and Scholars
Les cites early English translations (Tyndale, Geneva) and Greek scholar Kenneth Wuest to support translating apostasia as 'departure.'
Apostasy or Departure
Les explains that the Antichrist cannot appear until the church is gone, and that the word can mean either apostasy or departure.
Why Israel Rejected God as King — 1 Samuel 8 Explained
Now, as we're looking at all this, keep your mind back on Genesis 12 when God called Abraham and made that covenant with him that they were to be a nation of people living in the land who would in turn be under his sovereign kingship. And then if they would have been a nation of believers, God would have used them to take a knowledge of himself to all these heathen around him.
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Now, that's quite a commentary on how far the human race can remove themselves from any relationship with God, even in a period of only 1,650 years. And I think we're seeing much the same thing taking place in our own day and time, how rapidly we're seeing the human race, and we're seeing the very fabric of what we call Christian society falling apart.
2 Thessalonians 2:3: 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;
This verse is the key passage on apostasy/departure and the end times.
Yes, according to Les Feldick, the Greek word apostasia in 2 Thessalonians 2:3 can be translated 'departure,' and he teaches that this refers to the rapture of the church. However, the term can also mean a falling away from truth.
Les Feldick points out that the Greek word apostasia is translated 'depart' eight times elsewhere in the New Testament, and early English translations like Tyndale and Geneva used 'departure.' He believes the KJV's 'falling away' caused confusion.
Watch the Teaching: Who Holds Back the Antichrist? The Restrainer Removed.