^13 (A)But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.

²⁰ For if, after they ^(A)have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are ^(B)again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning.

³ For ^(A)we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another.

The Great Apostasy

4 Now the Spirit ^[a]expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed ^(A)to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons,

^8 (A)Now as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so do these also resist the truth: ^(B)men of corrupt minds, ^(C)disapproved concerning the faith;

⁶ And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. ⁷ For ^(A)the ^[a]mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only ^[b]He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. ⁸ And then the lawless one will be revealed, ^(B)whom the Lord will consume ^(C)with the breath of His mouth and destroy ^(D)with the brightness of His coming. ⁹ The coming of the lawless one is ^(E)according to the working of Satan, with all power, ^(F)signs, and lying wonders, ¹⁰ and with all unrighteous deception among ^(G)those who perish, because they did not receive ^(H)the love of the truth, that they might be saved. ¹¹ And ^(I)for this reason God will send them strong delusion, ^(J)that they should believe the lie,

⁹ “And if the prophet is induced to speak anything, I the Lord ^(A)have induced that prophet, and I will stretch out My hand against him and destroy him from among My people Israel. ¹⁰ And they shall bear their iniquity; the punishment of the prophet shall be the same as the punishment of the one who inquired,

^23 (A)The light of a lamp shall not shine in you anymore, ^(B)and the voice of bridegroom and bride shall not be heard in you anymore. For ^(C)your merchants were the great men of the earth, ^(D)for by your sorcery all the nations were deceived.