Question: Recently I heard a pastor use the phrase “falling away” (2 Thessalonians 2:3) to mean ...

Question: Recently I heard a pastor use the phrase “falling away” (2 Thessalonians:2:3Let 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;
See All...) to mean “departure” or “rapture.” This is the subject that Paul is addressing in 2 Thessalonians:2:1Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,
See All.... The pastor stated that all of the following references in the New Testament use the word “departure” to mean “turn away or go in another direction” and not “rebellion or apostasy”: Luke:2:13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
See All...; 8:13; 13:27; Acts:5:37After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the taxing, and drew away much people after him: he also perished; and all, even as many as obeyed him, were dispersed.
See All..., 38; 12:10; 15:38; 19:9; 21:21; 22:29; 2 Corinthians:12:8For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
See All...; 1 Timothy:4:1Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
See All...; 2 Timothy:2:19Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
See All...; Hebrews:3:12Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
See All.... So what departure do you think we find in 2 Thessalonians:2:3Let 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;
See All...? J. Vernon McGee stated both views.

Response: I do not understand the distinction the pastor was attempting to make. Is not “to turn away or go in another direction” the same as “rebellion or apostasy”? With all due respect to this pastor and McGee, I don’t see why anyone would leave an opening for two opposing views. A falling away is something that people do, not something done to them. The Rapture is done to us, not something we do. We can depart from sound doctrine, but we cannot depart from this earth to heaven—Christ must catch us up. The word apostasia (translated “falling away” in 2 Thes:2:3Let 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;
See All...), which means to defect, forsake, or depart from, could not mean the believer’s defection, forsaking, or departure from earth to heaven. Nor by any stretch of the imagination could apostasia mean the Rapture!