Why the Great Falling Away (Great Apostasy) Must Come Before the Man of Lawlessness Appears
Bible Study Guide
What Is the Great Apostasy?
We get the English word apostasy from the Greek word apostasia.
The meaning of apostasia is “rebellion,” “defection,” “departure,” or “falling away.” The New King James translation (NKJV) uses “falling away.” The New International translation uses “rebellion.” They both mean the same thing. A departure from the true Christian teachings of Jesus Christ.
The Great Falling Away: The Order Explained (2 Thessalonians 2:3)
(Verse 3) The new Thessalonian believers in Christ were being taught a false gospel. This false teaching was purportedly from Paul. They were being led to believe that the return of Christ had already occurred. This was false!
Paul begins the same way Jesus did on the Mount of Olives giving His Olivet Discourse “end of days” teaching. Paul explains, “Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way.” Jesus spoke of this first in Matthew 24:
Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you.” (Matthew 24:4)
“At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold,” (Matthew 24:10-12)
Jesus and Paul were both clear, elevated levels of deception will rule the day as we approach the return of Christ. The deception most concerning was spiritual deception. This was deception that moved a believer toward a nonbeliever.
Things That Need to Occur Before the Return of Christ
Paul wanted to make certain they understood that Christ had not returned because two specific events had not taken place. The use of the word “the” indicates that these two events were specific in nature and not some random occurrences.
- The rebellion occurs–falling away from true Christian faith in Christ (Apostasy)
- The man of lawlessness is revealed (Antichrist)
Paul explained that a great falling away from true Christian Christ-centered biblical faith is going to occur. This doesn’t point to unbelievers. He’s speaking of an event that will take place within the Church (Body of Believers).
Paul is saying that those who once believed will fall away from the truth and cause a great apostasy like never seen before. This is according to the works of Satan. Satan has no desire to scare you into following his lead. In fact, he would rather have you believe that you’re still following Christ, but in reality you’re moving toward a false Christ.
C.S. Lewis explained it this way, “The safest road to hell is the gradual one, the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, and without signposts.”
We are living in that time of the great apostasy. Rather than people conforming to the image of Christ. People are bending Christ to form Him into what they believe to be true. We see all this through the rapid rise in progressive religions and so-called Christian sects (Replacement Theology, Prosperity Gospel, New Apostolic Reformation, Social Justice Gospel, etc.). These are all heresy.
Who Is the Man Doomed To Destruction (Son of Perdition)?
The man doomed to destruction (son of perdition) goes by many biblical names. They all point to one character, aka the Antichrist. This means the one “opposed to” or “against” Christ.
The only time the phrase “antichrist” is used in the Bible is in the first and second letters of John (1 John 2:18, 22; 4:3; 2 John 1:7).
New Testament Names for the Antichrist
- The Antichrist – One who denies the Father and the Son
(1 John 2:18, 22; 1 John 4:3; 2 John 7) - The Man of Lawlessness / Man of Sin – The embodiment of rebellion against God
(2 Thessalonians 2:3) - The Son of Destruction (Perdition) – Destined for judgment
(2 Thessalonians 2:3) - The Lawless One – Empowered by Satan with deceptive signs
(2 Thessalonians 2:8–9) - The Beast – Political and military ruler empowered by Satan
(Revelation 13:1–8; Revelation 17:8–13) - The Beast from the Sea – Emphasizes global authority and chaos
(Revelation 13:1) - The One Whose Coming Is by Satan – Operates through counterfeit power
(2 Thessalonians 2:9)
Old Testament Foreshadows of the Antichrist
- The Little Horn – A blasphemous ruler who persecutes the saints
(Daniel 7:8, 20–25) - The Prince Who Is to Come – A future ruler connected to covenant betrayal
(Daniel 9:26–27) - The King Who Exalts Himself – Claims divine status
(Daniel 11:36–37) - The Despicable Person – Gains power through intrigue and deception
(Daniel 11:21)
As listed here, the prophet Daniel was the first to foretell of the coming Antichrist. He will not be a spiritual being. He will be a human that will come on the scene, first as an eloquent man offering solutions to the worlds problems. All the while, he will be working according to the works of his father, Satan. Then he will ultimately reveal himself and his true demonic intentions, opposing Christ.
What Signs Today Show Us We Are Nearing the Second Coming of Christ?
He Will Proclaim Himself To Be God (2 Thessalonians 2:4)
(Verse 4) The great apostasy will reach its climax when the man doomed to destruction (Antichrist) takes his place in the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem and proclaims himself to be God. The great falling away will peak when those who received the “mark of the beast” turn and worship him.
“He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.” (2 Thessalonians 2:4)
Daniel the prophet was the first to speak from God about this “man of lawlessness.” He described what his intentions will be.
“He will speak against the Most High and oppress his holy people and try to change the set times and the laws. The holy people will be delivered into his hands for a time, times and half a time.” (Daniel 7:25)
Time, times and half a time is three and half years. This is the half way point of the seven year Tribulation. It marks the beginning of the Great Tribulation when the Antichrist will take over the Jewish Temple. He will exalt himself as God. Then he will turn on the Jewish people and seek to destroy them.
The Earth’s Worst Days (Height of Apostasy)
Jesus echoed Daniel’s prophecy. He later forewarned with added detail of what it would be like for the Jews and the rest of the world when the Antichrist exalted himself in the Temple. Jesus delivered this message in His Olivet Discourse (Last Days Teaching). An event that will occur half way through the Tribulation.
“So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination that causes desolation,’ spoken of through the prophet Daniel—let the reader understand— 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17 Let no one on the housetop go down to take anything out of the house. 18 Let no one in the field go back to get their cloak. 19 How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! 20 Pray that your flight will not take place in winter or on the Sabbath. 21 For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again.22 “If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened.” (Matthew 24:15-22)
The “Holy Place” is the rebuilt and third Jewish Temple in Jerusalem. The “abomination that causes desolation” is the “man doomed to destruction”, aka Antichrist.
This period called the Great Tribulation will be the height of apostasy on earth. It will also be known as the earth’s worst days. Had this period been allowed to go for more than the three and a half years, there would be no survivors left on earth according to Jesus.
What Will Trigger the Great Apostasy of the Church?
Satan has been planting seeds of doubt in peoples minds since the Garden of Eden. The level of defection away from God will be unprecedented in volume in these last days.
This defection is increasingly growing through the ecumenical movement of the Catholic church alongside other organized religions. The Catholic church has been leading a movement among all religions of the world toward a universal church. This without acknowledging the vast spiritual differences.
Moreover, the great apostasy is expanding due to the progressive post modern Christian movement. As I mentioned earlier, this movement is what’s given birth to Replacement theology, New Apostolic Reformation, Prosperity Gospel, Social Justice Gospel and the Critical Race Theory Gospel among many.
The one thing they all have in common is they use the words of God like the buffet line at the Golden Corral. They choose only what they like, discarding what they don’t like. Also, they interpret scriptures through an allegorical lens. This gives them the freedom to twist God’s words in whatever direction they choose in order to fit their narrative.
But, there’s one more force that will drive this great apostasy (great falling away) into full gear. Yuval Noah Harrari is often quoted as saying, “AI will one day rewrite the Bible so that it’s correct.” This is pure heresy. And no, Harrari is not the Antichrist.
The merging of a false bible rewritten by AI that will sooth a universal religious church movement being led by the Catholic church is the perfect One World Religion marriage that the Bible predicts.
Closing Reflection On the Order Of the Great Apostasy
Scripture leaves no room for confusion: the Second Coming of Christ has not yet occurred. Paul states plainly that two events must happen first. There must be a great apostasy—a widespread falling away from biblical truth. From that spiritual collapse will come the revealing of the Antichrist, the man of lawlessness who openly opposes God and exalts himself. These are not optional signs or symbolic ideas; they are necessary markers on God’s prophetic timeline.
Yet Paul also hints at something even more significant. Before the Antichrist can be revealed, something—or Someone—must first be removed. This final restraint is critical to understanding God’s order and timing. It explains why lawlessness of the Tribulation has not yet fully erupted and why the Antichrist remains hidden. That truth will be the focus of the next Bible study—and it is essential for rightly dividing God’s Word in these last days.
See All 1 & 2 Thessalonians Bible Studies
Closing Prayer
Sovereign Lord,
We thank You for the clarity of Your Word and the certainty of Your prophetic plan. Guard us from deception and keep us anchored in truth as the great apostasy unfolds around us. Strengthen our faith, sharpen our discernment, and help us stand firm in a world that is falling away from You. Prepare our hearts for what is still to come, and give us wisdom to understand Your timing and Your order. Keep us faithful, watchful, and obedient until the day Your Son is revealed in glory. We trust You completely and submit ourselves to Your will.
In the powerful name of Jesus Christ we pray, Amen.