1 Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers, |
2 not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter supposed to have come from us, saying that the day of the Lord has already come. |
3 Don't let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness1 2:3 Some manuscripts sin is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. |
4 He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God's temple, proclaiming himself to be God. |
5 Don't you remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things? |
6 And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time. |
7 For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. |
8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming. |
9 The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, |
10 and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. |
11 For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie |
12 and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness. |
13 But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God chose you2 2:13 Some manuscripts because God chose you as his firstfruits to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. |
14 He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. |
15 So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the teachings3 2:15 Or traditions we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter. |
16 May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, |
17 encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word. |
