The Man of Lawlessness

1Now we implore you, brothers, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together unto Him, 2for you not quickly to be shaken in mind, nor to be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as if by us, as that day of the Lord is present. 3No one should deceive you in any way, because it is not until the apostasy shall have come first, and the man of lawlessness shall have been revealed—the son of destruction, 4the one opposing and exalting himself above every so-called god or object of worship—so as for him to sit down in the temple of God, setting forth that he himself is God.

5Do you not remember that, being yet with you, I was saying these things to you? 6And now you know that which is restraining for his being revealed in his time. 7For the mystery of lawlessness is working already; there is only the one at present restraining it, until he might be gone out of the midst. 8And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will consume with the breath of His mouth and will annul by the appearing of His coming, 9whose coming is according to the working of Satan, in every power, and in signs, and in wonders of falsehood, 10and in every deception of wickedness unto those perishing, in return for which they did not receive the love of the truth in order for them to be saved. 11And because of this, God will send to them a working of delusion, for them to believe what is false, 12in order that all those not having believed the truth but having delighted in unrighteousness should be judged.

Stand Firm

13But we ought to give thanks to God always concerning you, brothers beloved by the Lord, that God has chosen you from the beginninga unto salvation in the sanctification of the Spirit, and by faith of the truth; 14to this also He called you through our gospel to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15So then, brothers, stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught, whether by word, or by letter from us.

16Now our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and God our Father, the One having loved us and having given us eternal comfort and good hope by grace, 17may He encourage your hearts and may He strengthen them in every good work and word.