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; (2 Th 2:3)

There are those who claim that it is the rapture of the church that is alluded to, but it may not be that at all. It may be, and most likely is, talking about men falling away from truth. We must first look at "a falling away" in order to get the meaning of this. The word translated "falling away" is Strong's G646 apostasia ap-os-tas-ee'-ah Feminine of the same as G647; defection from truth (properly the state), ("apostasy"): - falling away, forsake. (apostasia) and only other place it is found in the New Testament is in Acts 21:21 which states, "that thou teachest all the Jews which are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses." The same word (apostasia) is translated "forsake" in Acts 21:21 and must mean to forsake. There are other Scriptures that point to a forsaking of the truth. There could, however, be an allusion to the rapture, but the main thing for us to understand is that there will be a great falling away from truth.

All you have to do is open your eyes and you will see that we are traveling farther and farther down the road of what is called in Scripture "the falling away" that is to come prior to the return of the Lord.  

The Holy Spirit is calling the Church to a fierce allegiance to Jesus as we resist and expose the false justice movement that is emerging in the earth today.

In my opinion we are in the early days of the generation in which Jesus will return. In other words, I believe that there are people alive today who will see the return of Jesus. It may be the 20-year-olds or the 2-year-olds who see it. I do not know with certainty. My opinions on this are based on observation of the biblical signs of the times, not on personal revelation.

Rev. 17 is one of the most significant end-time prophecies because it gives us insight into Satan's end-time strategy to deceive the Church so that many fall away from the faith. Therefore, this prophecy deserves much careful attention because the deceived will go to the lake of fire.

Paul prophesied about a falling away from the faith in the end times. This prophetic theme is one of the greatest challenges facing the Church at this hour (Mt. 24:9-13; 2 Thes. 2:3; 1 Tim. 4:1-2; 2 Tim. 3:1-7; 4:3-5; 2 Pet. 2:1-3). A doctrine of a demon is a teaching that is inspired by demons.

¹ Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; ² Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; ³ forbidding to marry... (1 Tim. 4:1-3)

The falling away and the revealing of the Antichrist are two of Paul's most significant signs that reveal the nearness of Jesus' second coming.

³ Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day [Jesus' second coming] shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin [Antichrist] be revealed,... (2 Thes. 2:3)

Sound doctrine is that which teaches obedience and allegiance to Jesus. It requires endurance. To turn the ear away means that people will no longer hear what God intended in various passages.

³ For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; ⁴ and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables... (2 Tim. 4:3-4)

Loving the truth is more than agreeing with it; it involves standing for the truth despite the cost.

⁹ Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, ¹⁰ And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. (2 Thes. 2:9-10)

Jesus prophesied about an increased deception in the end times (Mt. 24:9-13).

⁴ Jesus answered and said to them: "Take heed that no one deceives you. ⁵ For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many....¹¹ And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many...²⁴ For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. (Mt. 24:4-5, 11, 24)