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 and sisters, ² not to be easily upset or troubled, either by a prophecy^[a](C) or by a message or by a letter supposedly from us, alleging that the day of the Lord^[b](D) has come.^{(E) 3} Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way. For that day will not come unless the apostasy^[c] comes first and the man of lawlessness^[d] is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. ⁴ He opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god^(F) or object of worship,^(G) so that he sits^[e] in God’s temple, proclaiming that he himself is God.

⁵ Don’t you remember that when I was still with you I used to tell 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 at the appearance of his coming. ⁹ The coming of the lawless one is based on Satan’s working, with every kind of miracle, both signs and wonders serving the lie,^{(K) 10} and with every wicked deception among those who are perishing. They perish because they did not accept the love of the truth and so be saved.^{(L) 11} For this reason God sends them a strong delusion so that they will believe the lie, ¹² so that all will be condemned^(M)—those who did not believe^(N) the truth but delighted in unrighteousness.

³⁶ “Then the king will do whatever he wants.^(A) He will exalt and magnify himself above every god,^(B) and he will say outrageous things against the God of gods.^(C) He will be successful until the time of wrath is completed,^(D) because what has been decreed will be accomplished. ³⁷ He will not show regard for the gods^[a] of his ancestors, the god desired by women, or for any other god,^(E) because he will magnify himself above all.

Light versus Darkness

⁶ Let no one deceive you with empty arguments, for God’s wrath^(A) is coming on the disobedient^[a] because of these things. ⁷ Therefore, do not become their partners. ⁸ For you were once darkness, but now you are light^(B) in the Lord. Walk as children of light^(C)— ⁹ for the fruit of the light^[b] consists of all goodness, righteousness, and truth^(D)— ¹⁰ testing^(E) what is pleasing^(F) to the Lord. ¹¹ Don’t participate in the fruitless^(G) works of darkness, but instead expose them. ¹² For it is shameful even to mention what is done by them in secret. ¹³ Everything exposed by the light is made visible,^{(H) 14} for what makes everything visible is light. Therefore it is said: