主再来的先兆

弟兄姊妹,关于主耶稣基督再来和我们到祂那里相聚的事情, 我们现在奉劝你们:无论是什么灵,或是传闻,或是冒充我们写的信,说主的日子已经到了,你们都不要轻易动摇,也不要惊慌。 不管别人用什么诡计,你们都不要上当。因为那日子来临之前,必有离经叛道的事发生,而那不法之徒,就是那注定灭亡的人也要出现。 他会抵挡主,高抬自己超过一切所谓的神明和人们崇拜的对象,甚至坐在上帝的殿中以上帝自居!

我还在你们那里的时候,曾告诉过你们这些事,你们忘记了吗? 现在,你们知道是什么拦阻他,使他等到特定的时间才出现。 其实那不法之徒的阴谋已经在酝酿中,然而现在有一位在拦阻他。等到拦阻他的那位一离开, 他就会出现,但主耶稣会用自己口中的气毁灭他,用从天降临的荣光废掉他。

他来要按照撒旦的伎俩行各样虚假的异能、神迹和奇事, 10 用尽各样诡计欺骗那些将要灭亡的人,因为他们不喜欢接受那能拯救他们的真理。 11 上帝就让他们是非不辨,去相信那些虚假的谎言, 12 使一切不相信真理、反喜爱不义的人都被定罪。

要坚定不移

13 主所爱的弟兄姊妹,我们应该时常为你们感谢上帝,因为上帝一开始就拣选了你们,为了使你们借着圣灵得以圣洁,并且相信真理,从而得救。 14 上帝借着我们所传的福音呼召了你们,使你们可以得到我们主耶稣基督的荣耀。 15 所以,各位弟兄姊妹,务要坚定不移,无论是我们信上的教导还是口头的教导,你们都要坚守。

16 愿主耶稣基督和爱我们、开恩将永远的安慰和美好的盼望赐给我们的父上帝, 17 安慰你们的心,使你们在一切善行善言上刚强。

We ask you, Achim b’Moshiach, concerning the Bias HaMoshiach (the Arrival,Coming of Moshiach) Yehoshua Adoneinu and our being gathered together to him [Moshiach],

that you not become too hastily disturbed from your spiritual composure nor frightened either by a ruach or by a dibur (saying, utterance) or by an iggeret (letter), as if from us, saying that the YOM HASHEM (Day of the L-rd, AMOS 5:18) has come.

Let no one in any way lead you astray, because, unless the Merid (Rebellion, Revolt, the [Anti-Moshiach] Shmad Betrayal Defection of Apostasy, the Azivah Abandonment) Desertion comes rishonah (first), and the Apocalypse of the Ish HaMufkarut (Man of Lawlessness), the Ish HaChatta’ah Ben HaAvaddon (Man of Sin, Son of Destruction Anti-Moshiach) is unveiled.

I’m referring to the one setting himself against and exalting himself AL KOL EL (above every G-d, DANIEL 11:36), above all that is given the appellation "G-d" or object of worship, with the result that in the Beis Hamikdash Heikhal he sits down on the MOSHAV ELOHIM (throne of G-d, YECHEZKEL 28:2), proclaiming that he himself is Elohim...

Do you not recall that when I was still with you I was telling you these things?

Yet you have da’as of what is holding back and restraining [Anti-Moshiach] now, so that he [Anti-Moshiach] may be unveiled and revealed in his own time.

For the Sod HaMufkarut (Mystery of Lawlessness) is already working; only he who holds back and restrains just now will do so until he is out of the way.

And then the Ish HaMufkarut (the Man of Lawlessness [Anti-Moshiach]) will be revealed, whom HaAdon [Moshiach Yehoshua, Malachi 3:1; Ps 110:1; Dan 7:13-14] will destroy by the RUACH (YESHAYAH 11:4) of His mouth and will wipe out at the appearance of His Bi’as (HaMoshiach, His Parousia, Coming).

The Bi’as Anti-Moshiach (Coming, Parousia, of Anti-Moshiach) is according to the working of Hasatan with all false ko’ach (power) and otot (signs) and pseudo moftim (wonders),

10 And with all deception of resha (wickedness) for those who are perishing, because they were not being mekabel (receiving) the Ahavas HaEmes (Love of the Truth) so that they have the Geulah deliverance.

11 And for this reason Hashem sends to them a powerful madduchei shav (false enticement, delusion) in order that they believe what is sheker . [MELACHIM ALEF 22:22]

12 This is for the tachlis (purpose) of condemning to Onesh [Gehinnom] all the ones who have no emunah in HaEmes, but instead have had delight in resha.

13 But we ought always to offer hodayah (thankgiving) and make brachot to Hashem concerning you, Achim b’Moshiach, ahuvei Hashem, because Hashem chose you as bikkurim (first fruits) for the Geulah through mekudash b’Ruach HaKodesh (being set apart as holy in the Ruach HaKodesh) and through emunah in HaEmes.

14 This is HaEmes to which Hashem called you through our Besuras HaGeulah to the obtaining of the kavod of Rebbe Melech HaMoshiach Adoneinu Yehoshua.

15 So then, Achim b’Moshiach, stand fast and hold fast to the [orthodox Jewish] emunah, the Moshiach’s pnimiyus hatorah that was handed over and transmitted to you, which you were taught, whether by divrei pinu (words of our mouth) or by our iggeret hakodesh.

16 Now may HaMelech HaMoshiach Yehoshua Adoneinu Himself and Elohim Avinu, who has regarded us with ahavah (agape), and has granted us nechamat olam (eternal consolation) and tikvah tovah (good hope) by the unmerited Chesed of Hashem

17 May He give chozek (strength) and encouragement to you in every mitzvah (good deed) you do and in every dibur (utterance) you speak.

The Man of Lawlessness

Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ(A) and our being gathered to him,(B) we ask you, brothers and sisters, not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by the teaching allegedly from us—whether by a prophecy or by word of mouth or by letter(C)—asserting that the day of the Lord(D) has already come.(E) Don’t let anyone deceive you(F) in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion(G) occurs and the man of lawlessness[a] is revealed,(H) the man doomed to destruction. He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God(I) or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.(J)

Don’t you remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things?(K) And now you know what is holding him back,(L) so that he may be revealed at the proper time. For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back(M) will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed,(N) whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth(O) and destroy by the splendor of his coming.(P) The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan(Q) works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders(R) that serve the lie, 10 and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing.(S) They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.(T) 11 For this reason God sends them(U) a powerful delusion(V) so that they will believe the lie(W) 12 and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.(X)

Stand Firm

13 But we ought always to thank God for you,(Y) brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you as firstfruits[b](Z) to be saved(AA) through the sanctifying work of the Spirit(AB) and through belief in the truth. 14 He called you(AC) to this through our gospel,(AD) that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

15 So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm(AE) and hold fast to the teachings[c] we passed on to you,(AF) whether by word of mouth or by letter.

16 May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father,(AG) who loved us(AH) and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, 17 encourage(AI) your hearts and strengthen(AJ) you in every good deed and word.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Thessalonians 2:3 Some manuscripts sin
  2. 2 Thessalonians 2:13 Some manuscripts because from the beginning God chose you
  3. 2 Thessalonians 2:15 Or traditions

My brothers, we want to talk to you about the time when our Lord Jesus Christ comes again and we are taken to meet him.

Do not let your minds be easily upset. Do not be troubled by a spirit, or a message, or a letter. Do not be troubled if you hear that the day of the Lord has already come. Some people will say it came from us.

Do not let anyone fool you in any way. Before the day of the Lord comes, many people will stop believing God. The Man of Evil will be seen. He is the evil one who will be destroyed for ever.

He will put himself against God. He will put himself above everything to do with God, and above everything that people worship. He will sit in God's holy place and tell people that he is God.

You remember that I told you these things when I was still with you.

And you know what is holding that evil man back. He will not be seen until it is his time to be seen.

The plan to make people wrong has already begun to work. But someone is holding back that plan. He will stop the law-breaker for a time.

Then that evil man will be seen. The Lord Jesus will kill him with the breath from his mouth. The coming of the Lord Jesus will be so bright and wonderful that it will put the evil man to an end.

The coming of the evil man is the work of Satan. He will come in great power with signs that are not true, and wonderful things.

10 And by his bad tricks he will fool people who are lost. They will not love the true message which would have saved them.

11 That is why God lets them be fooled so that they will believe what is not true.

12 They will all be judged. I mean the people who have not believed in the true message but who wanted to do what is wrong.

13 My brothers, the Lord loves you. We should thank God for you always. Here is why. From the beginning God chose you to be saved. You were saved because the Spirit made you holy and because you believed the true message.

14 God called you to be saved by the good news we brought you. He did this so that you would have some of the honour which the Lord Jesus Christ has.

15 So my brothers, be strong. Hold on to the things we taught you by our words or by letter.

16 God has loved us and made us happy through his kindness. He gave us everlasting comfort and good hope.

17 May our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, comfort your hearts and make you strong to do and say everything that is good.