主再來的先兆

弟兄姊妹,關於主耶穌基督再來和我們到祂那裡相聚的事情, 我們現在奉勸你們:無論是什麼靈,或是傳聞,或是冒充我們寫的信,說主的日子已經到了,你們都不要輕易動搖,也不要驚慌。 不管別人用什麼詭計,你們都不要上當。因為那日子來臨之前,必有離經叛道的事發生,而那不法之徒,就是那註定滅亡的人也要出現。 他會抵擋主,高抬自己超過一切所謂的神明和人們崇拜的對象,甚至坐在上帝的殿中以上帝自居!

我還在你們那裡的時候,曾告訴過你們這些事,你們忘記了嗎? 現在,你們知道是什麼攔阻他,使他等到特定的時間才出現。 其實那不法之徒的陰謀已經在醞釀中,然而現在有一位在攔阻他。等到攔阻他的那位一離開, 他就會出現,但主耶穌會用自己口中的氣毀滅他,用從天降臨的榮光廢掉他。

他來要按照撒旦的伎倆行各樣虛假的異能、神蹟和奇事, 10 用盡各樣詭計欺騙那些將要滅亡的人,因為他們不喜歡接受那能拯救他們的真理。 11 上帝就讓他們是非不辨,去相信那些虛假的謊言, 12 使一切不相信真理、反喜愛不義的人都被定罪。

要堅定不移

13 主所愛的弟兄姊妹,我們應該時常為你們感謝上帝,因為上帝一開始就揀選了你們,為了使你們藉著聖靈得以聖潔,並且相信真理,從而得救。 14 上帝藉著我們所傳的福音呼召了你們,使你們可以得到我們主耶穌基督的榮耀。 15 所以,各位弟兄姊妹,務要堅定不移,無論是我們信上的教導還是口頭的教導,你們都要堅守。

16 願主耶穌基督和愛我們、開恩將永遠的安慰和美好的盼望賜給我們的父上帝, 17 安慰你們的心,使你們在一切善行善言上剛強。

EMPERO os rogamos, hermanos, cuanto á la venida de nuestro Señor Jesucristo, y nuestro recogimiento á él,

Que no os mováis fácilmente de vuestro sentimiento, ni os conturbéis ni por espíritu, ni por palabra, ni por carta como nuestra, como que el día del Señor esté cerca.

No os engañe nadie en ninguna manera; porque no vendrá sin que venga antes la apostasía, y se manifieste el hombre de pecado, el hijo de perdición,

Oponiéndose, y levantándose contra todo lo que se llama Dios, ó que se adora; tanto que se asiente en el templo de Dios como Dios, haciéndose parecer Dios.

¿No os acordáis que cuando estaba todavía con vosotros, os decía esto?

Y ahora vosotros sabéis lo que impide, para que á su tiempo se manifieste.

Porque ya está obrando el misterio de iniquidad: solamente espera hasta que sea quitado de en medio el que ahora impide;

Y entonces será manifestado aquel inicuo, al cual el Señor matará con el espíritu de su boca, y destruirá con el resplandor de su venida;

A aquel inicuo, cuyo advenimiento es según operación de Satanás, con grande potencia, y señales, y milagros mentirosos,

10 Y con todo engaño de iniquidad en los que perecen; por cuanto no recibieron el amor de la verdad para ser salvos.

11 Por tanto, pues, les envía Dios operación de error, para que crean á la mentira;

12 Para que sean condenados todos los que no creyeron á la verdad, antes consintieron á la iniquidad.

13 Mas nosotros debemos dar siempre gracias á Dios por vosotros, hermanos amados del Señor, de que Dios os haya escogido desde el principio para salud, por la santificación del Espíritu y fe de la verdad:

14 A lo cual os llamó por nuestro evangelio, para alcanzar la gloria de nuestro Señor Jesucristo.

15 Así que, hermanos, estad firmes, y retened la doctrina que habéis aprendido, sea por palabra, ó por carta nuestra.

16 Y el mismo Señor nuestro Jesucristo, y Dios y Padre nuestro, el cual nos amó, y nos dió consolación eterna, y buena esperanza por gracia,

17 Consuele vuestros corazones, y os confirme en toda buena palabra y obra.

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

And we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and of our gathering together unto him:

That you be not easily moved from your sense, nor be terrified, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by epistle, as sent from us, as if the day of the Lord were at hand.

Let no man deceive you by any means, for unless there come a revolt first, and the man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition,

Who opposeth, and is lifted up above all that is called God, or that is worshipped, so that he sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself as if he were God.

Remember you not, that when I was yet with you, I told you these things?

And now you know what withholdeth, that he may be revealed in his time.

For the mystery of iniquity already worketh; only that he who now holdeth, do hold, until he be taken out of the way.

And then that wicked one shall be revealed whom the Lord Jesus shall kill with the spirit of his mouth; and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming, him,

Whose coming is according to the working of Satan, in all power, and signs, and lying wonders,

10 And in all seduction of iniquity to them that perish; because they receive not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. Therefore God shall send them the operation of error, to believe lying:

11 That all may be judged who have not believed the truth, but have consented to iniquity.

12 But we ought to give thanks to God always for you, brethren, beloved of God, for that God hath chosen you firstfruits unto salvation, in sanctification of the spirit, and faith of the truth:

13 Whereunto also he hath called you by our gospel, unto the purchasing of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

14 Therefore, brethren, stand fast; and hold the traditions which you have learned, whether by word, or by our epistle.

15 Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God and our Father, who hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation, and good hope in grace,

16 Exhort your hearts, and confirm you in every good work and word.