The Man of Lawlessness

2 Now concerning the coming^(A) of our Lord^(B) Jesus Christ and our being gathered to Him: We ask you, brothers, ² not to be easily upset in mind or troubled, either by a spirit^(C) or by a message or by a letter as if from us, alleging that the Day of the Lord^[a](D) has come.^{(E) 3} Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way. For that day will not come unless the apostasy^[b] comes first and the man of lawlessness^[c] is revealed, the son of destruction. ⁴ He opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god^(F) or object of worship,^(G) so that he sits^[d] in God’s sanctuary,^[e] publicizing that he himself is God.

⁵ Don’t you remember that when I was still with you I told you about this? ⁶ And you know what currently restrains him, so that he will be revealed in his time.^{(H) 7} For the mystery of lawlessness^(I) is already at work, but the one now restraining will do so until he is out of the way, ⁸ and then the lawless one will be revealed. The Lord Jesus will destroy him with the breath of His mouth^(J) and will bring him to nothing with the brightness of His coming. ⁹ The coming of the lawless one is based on Satan’s working, with all kinds of false miracles, signs, and wonders,^{(K) 10} and with every unrighteous deception among those who are perishing. They perish because they did not accept the love of the truth in order to be saved.^{(L) 11} For this reason God sends them a strong delusion so that they will believe what is false, ¹² so that all will be condemned^(M)—those who did not believe^(N) the truth but enjoyed unrighteousness.

Stand Firm

¹³ But we must always thank God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because from the beginning^[f] God has chosen^(O) you for salvation through sanctification^(P) by the Spirit and through belief in the truth. ¹⁴ He called you to this through our gospel, so that you might obtain the glory^(Q) of our Lord Jesus Christ. ¹⁵ Therefore, brothers, stand firm^(R) and hold to the traditions you were taught,^(S) either by our message or by our letter.

¹⁶ May our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved^(T) us and given us eternal encouragement and good hope by grace, ¹⁷ encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good work and word.