⁵ Don’t you remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things?^{(A) 6} And now you know what is holding him back,^(B) so that he may be revealed at the proper time. ⁷ For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back^(C) will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. ⁸ And then the lawless one will be revealed,^(D) whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth^(E) and destroy by the splendor of his coming.^{(F) 9} The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan^(G) works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders^(H) that serve the lie, ¹⁰ and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing.^(I) They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.^{(J) 11} For this reason God sends them^(K) a powerful delusion^(L) so that they will believe the lie^{(M) 12} and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.^(N)