⁴ He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God^(A) or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.^(B)

⁵ Don’t you remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things?^{(C) 6} And now you know what is holding him back,^(D) 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^(E) will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. ⁸ And then the lawless one will be revealed,^(F) whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth^(G) and destroy by the splendor of his coming.^{(H) 9} The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan^(I) works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders^(J) that serve the lie, ¹⁰ and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing.^(K) They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.^(L)