The Man of Lawlessness

1Now concerning the cominga of our Lordb Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him: We ask you, brothers and sisters, 2not to be easily upset or troubled, either by a prophecya a or by a message or by a letter supposedly from us, alleging that the day of the LordB b has come.c 3Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way. For that day will not come unless the apostasyA comes first and the man of lawlessnessB is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. 4He opposes and exalts himself above every so-called goda or object of worship,b so that he sitsA in God’s temple, proclaiming that he himself is God.

5Don’t you remember that when I was still with you I used to tell you about this? 6And you know what currently restrains him, so that he will be revealed in his time.a 7For the mystery of lawlessnessa is already at work, but the one now restraining will do so until he is out of the way, 8and then the lawless one will be revealed. The Lord Jesus will destroy him with the breath of his moutha and will bring him to nothing at the appearance of his coming. 9The coming of the lawless one is based on Satan’s working, with every kind of miracle, both signs and wonders serving the lie,a 10and with every wicked deception among those who are perishing. They perish because they did not accept the love of the truth and so be saved.a 11For this reason God sends them a strong delusion so that they will believe the lie, 12so that all will be condemneda — those who did not believeb the truth but delighted in unrighteousness.

Stand Firm

13But we ought to thank God always for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because from the beginningA God has chosena you for salvation through sanctificationb by the Spirit and through belief in the truth. 14He called you to this through our gospel, so that you might obtain the glorya of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15So then, brothers and sisters, stand firma and hold to the traditions you were taught,b whether by what we said or what we wrote.

16May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who has loveda us and given us eternal encouragement and good hope by grace, 17encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good work and word.