Apostasy or departure?

2 Thessalonians 2:3 NASB
(3)  Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction,

The Greek word for apostasy translated here in the NASB is

G646 – apostasy
ἀποστασία

Feminine of the same as G647; defection from truth (properly the state), (“apostasy”): - falling away, forsake. Strong’s dictionary

From the Bible Knowledge Commentary:

One major event is the rebellion (lit., “the falling away,” hē apostasia, from whence comes the English word “apostasy”). This is a revolt, a departure, an abandoning of a position once held. This rebellion, which will take place within the professing church, will be a departure from the truth that God has revealed in His Word. True, apostasy has characterized the church almost from its inception, but Paul referred to a specific distinguishable apostasy that will come in the future (cf. 1Ti_4:1-3; 2Ti_3:1-5; 2Ti_4:3-4; Jas_5:1-8; 2Pe_2:1-22; 2Pe_3:3-6; Jude). He had already told his readers about it (2Th_2:5).

From Vine’s NT Dictionary:

3. apostasia (G646), "a defection, revolt, apostasy," is used in the NT of religious apostasy; in Act_21:21, it is translated "to forsake," lit., "thou teachest apostasy from Moses." In 2Th_2:3 "the falling away" signifies apostasy from the faith. In papyri documents it is used politically of rebels.

The word apostasy at its essence means to depart from or to fall away from much like we would speak of departing from a certain gate at an airport.  Most scholars understand this passage to be talking about departing from the faith – hence our modern understanding of the word – apostasy.

What if though – the departure were in reference to something else that must take place before the Antichrist is revealed?  Let’s look at how the Geneva Bible (1587) translated this passage:

2 Thessalonians 2:3 Geneva
(3)  Let no man deceiue you by any meanes: for that day shall not come, except there come a departing first, and that that man of sinne be disclosed, euen the sonne of perdition,

Could this be an explicit reference to the rapture of the Church?  It does fit the context – true apostasy would be a lot easier if the real Christians were no longer around.

Discuss!