I found this PDF link to Andy Woods short book on the topic.
Approx 15 minute read laying out with scripture why he believes it’s the rapture, not a spiritual falling away
From his book:
The Background
Perhaps one of the most enigmatic Bible verses in all the Scripture is found in
Second Thessalonians 2:3, which says, “Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day
will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of
perdition” (NKJV). The Apostle Paul had on his second missionary journey planted the
church in Thessalonica. Within less than a year, Paul was forced out of Thessalonica by the
unbelieving Jews that were persecuting him. Consequently, he was driven ultimately into
Berea, then Athens, and finally Corinth. When Paul wrote the two Thessalonian epistles he
was writing to the infant church that he had just planted about six months to a year earlier.
Thus, his audience consisted primarily of new Christians, or what some might call today
“baby Christians.”
These folks were confused, to say the least. Why were they confused? The
immediately preceding verse (2 Thess. 2:2), says, “not to be soon shaken in mind or
troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ
had come.” Apparently, during Paul’s absence from Thessalonica a forged letter had begun
to circulate in their midst, allegedly having come from Paul, telling the new Thessalonian
believers that they were in the Tribulation period. When Paul was with them, about six
months to a year later, he had taught them that they would be raptured to heaven prior to the
Tribulation period (1 Thess. 1:10; 4:13-18). Now, because of this forged letter that had come
into their midst, the Thessalonian Christians, thought that they were in the actual Tribulation
period. This mindset was compounded by the fact that the unbelieving Jews that had
persecuted Paul were now turning on Paul’s flock in his absence. Keep in mind that most of
the New Testament had not even been written yet. Beyond that, the apostle that led them to
Christ was now absent. Because they were new Christians, with very little spiritual
1knowledge, they were shaken and confused because of the apparent inconsistency between
Paul’s initial teaching and his alleged letter to them.
Consequently, Paul responds in Second Thessalonians 2:3-12 by laying out five
Approx 15 minute read laying out with scripture why he believes it’s the rapture, not a spiritual falling away
From his book:
The Background
Perhaps one of the most enigmatic Bible verses in all the Scripture is found in
Second Thessalonians 2:3, which says, “Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day
will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of
perdition” (NKJV). The Apostle Paul had on his second missionary journey planted the
church in Thessalonica. Within less than a year, Paul was forced out of Thessalonica by the
unbelieving Jews that were persecuting him. Consequently, he was driven ultimately into
Berea, then Athens, and finally Corinth. When Paul wrote the two Thessalonian epistles he
was writing to the infant church that he had just planted about six months to a year earlier.
Thus, his audience consisted primarily of new Christians, or what some might call today
“baby Christians.”
These folks were confused, to say the least. Why were they confused? The
immediately preceding verse (2 Thess. 2:2), says, “not to be soon shaken in mind or
troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ
had come.” Apparently, during Paul’s absence from Thessalonica a forged letter had begun
to circulate in their midst, allegedly having come from Paul, telling the new Thessalonian
believers that they were in the Tribulation period. When Paul was with them, about six
months to a year later, he had taught them that they would be raptured to heaven prior to the
Tribulation period (1 Thess. 1:10; 4:13-18). Now, because of this forged letter that had come
into their midst, the Thessalonian Christians, thought that they were in the actual Tribulation
period. This mindset was compounded by the fact that the unbelieving Jews that had
persecuted Paul were now turning on Paul’s flock in his absence. Keep in mind that most of
the New Testament had not even been written yet. Beyond that, the apostle that led them to
Christ was now absent. Because they were new Christians, with very little spiritual
1knowledge, they were shaken and confused because of the apparent inconsistency between
Paul’s initial teaching and his alleged letter to them.
Consequently, Paul responds in Second Thessalonians 2:3-12 by laying out five
