² not to be quickly shaken in mind or ^(A)alarmed, either ^(B)by a spirit or a ^(C)spoken word, or ^(D)a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that ^(E)the day of the Lord has come.

Test the Spirits

4 Beloved, ^(A)do not believe every spirit, but ^(B)test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for ^(C)many ^(D)false prophets ^(E)have gone out into the world. ² By this you know the Spirit of God: ^(F)every spirit that confesses that ^(G)Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God,

⁷ And when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, ^(A)do not be alarmed. This ^(B)must take place, but the end is not yet.

⁴ And Jesus answered them, ^(A)“See that no one leads you astray. ⁵ For ^(B)many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am ^(C)the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. ⁶ And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you ^(D)are not alarmed, for this ^(E)must take place, but the end is not yet.

^4 (A)They will say, “Where is the promise of ^(B)his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.” ⁵ For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth ^(C)was formed out of water and through water ^(D)by the word of God, ⁶ and that by means of these the world that then existed ^(E)was deluged with water and ^(F)perished. ⁷ But by the same word ^(G)the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and ^(H)destruction of the ungodly.

⁸ But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and ^(I)a thousand years as one day.

False Prophets and Teachers

2 But ^(A)false prophets also arose among the people, ^(B)just as there will be false teachers among you, who will ^(C)secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master ^(D)who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. ² And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth ^(E)will be blasphemed. ³ And ^(F)in their greed they will exploit you ^(G)with false words. ^(H)Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.

¹⁷ I, Paul, write ^(A)this greeting with my own hand. This is the sign of genuineness in every letter of mine; it is the way I write.

¹⁵ For this we declare to you ^(A)by a word from the Lord,^[a] that ^(B)we who are alive, who are left until ^(C)the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep.

^8 (A)who will sustain you to the end, ^(B)guiltless ^(C)in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.