2 Thessalonians 2:1-12

Contemporary English Version

The Lord's Return

2 ^(A) When our Lord Jesus returns, we will be gathered up to meet him. So I ask you, my friends, ² not to be easily upset or disturbed by people who claim the Lord^[a] has already come. They may say they heard this directly from the Holy Spirit, or from someone else, or even that they read it in one of our letters. ³ But don't be fooled! People will rebel against God. Then before the Lord returns, the wicked^[b] one who is doomed to be destroyed will appear. ^4 (B) He will brag and oppose everything holy or sacred. He will even sit in God's temple and claim to be God. ⁵ Don't you remember I told you this while I was still with you?

⁶ You already know what is holding this wicked one back until it is time for him to come. ⁷ His mysterious power is already at work, but someone is holding him back. And the wicked one won't appear until this someone is out of the way. ^8 (C) Then he will appear, but the Lord Jesus will kill him simply by breathing on him. He will be completely destroyed by the Lord's glorious return.

^9 (D) When the wicked one appears, Satan will pretend to work all kinds of miracles, wonders, and signs. ¹⁰ Lost people will be fooled by his evil deeds. They could be saved, but they will refuse to love the truth and accept it. ¹¹ So God will make sure they are fooled into believing a lie. ¹² All of them will be punished, because they would rather do evil than believe the truth.