When is/was "the falling away"?

[Dedicated Mind]

II thes 2:2 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,
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;


has the falling away already occurred during the dark ages, medieval times when men turned to skepticism, doubt, science and secularism and we are now in the latter rain revival before the second coming or is the falling away a move towards liberalism within the apostolic church presently happening and still future? i tend to believe the former.

[Lafon]

IMHO, it hasn't happened yet, but coming shortly!

Perhaps the greater question should be, "What" did Paul imply by the phrase "falling away"? IMHO lest one has a proper understanding of what this phrase implies then how is it possible to know whether it has transpired yet, or most importantly, "When" will it take place and who will be adversely affected by it?

[larrylyates]

We are experiencing the the falling away now. The refusal of "churches" to accept the truth of Apostolic Doctrine and the Mighty God in Christ, IS the falling away spoken of by Paul in the verse you quoted and also in Col 2:8--"Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily."
The persistence of trinitarianism and false baptisms and worship continues to erode the fabric of society and we are close to the end of the Lord's patience.

[Jay]

I believe that we are in the initial stages of this event. However, the fact that so many have lost their love for Jesus will only be made manifest with the arrival of persecution. Persecution will be the means that God will use to purge His church and separate those who are true from those who are all tlak. There are going to be many who have embraced strong delusions who will be made manifest by their concessionto the demands of those persecuting the church. They will be even more vicious for that very reason, and they will blame those who will not compromise for ringing the persecution on themselves.

[seekerman]

The 'falling away' occurred for almost 2000 years between the early apostolic church and 1913. 'Apostolics' cannot find a visible, viable and powerful Church of Jesus Christ during those many years.

According to some, the Church of Jesus Christ was re-established in 1913 which is a restoration, not a falling away. For some though, the real Church of Jesus Christ is now just a 100 year blip during the past 2000 years. here yesterday, gone tomorrow.

[Praxeas]

Originally Posted by seekerman

The 'falling away' occurred for almost 2000 years between the early apostolic church and 1913. 'Apostolics' cannot find a visible, viable and powerful Church of Jesus Christ during those many years.

According to some, the Church of Jesus Christ was re-established in 1913 which is a restoration, not a falling away. For some though, the real Church of Jesus Christ is now just a 100 year blip during the past 2000 years. here yesterday, gone tomorrow.

I agree it began back then

[Michael The Disciple]

There is both. Restoration and backsliding. Both have a long way to still go.

[seekerman]

Originally Posted by Praxeas

I agree it began back then

How about the blip?

[Praxeas]

The church is not an organzation. The church is the body of believers.

BTW most Oneness tend to believe there was a church in every century

[seekerman]

Originally Posted by Praxeas

The church is not an organzation. The church is the body of believers.

BTW most Oneness tend to believe there was a church in every century

But...what about the blip?