²² False messiahs^[a] and false prophets will appear and produce signs and wonders, to lead astray, if possible, the elect.^(A)

²⁴ For false messiahs^[a] and false prophets will appear and produce great signs and wonders, to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.^(A)

⁸ And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus^[a] will destroy^[b] with the breath of his mouth, annihilating him by the manifestation of his coming.^{(A) 9} The coming of the lawless one is apparent in the working of Satan, who uses all power, signs, lying wonders,^{(B) 10} and every kind of wicked deception for those who are perishing because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.^{(C) 11} For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion, leading them to believe what is false,^{(D) 12} so that all who have not believed the truth but took pleasure in unrighteousness will be condemned.^(E)

Chosen for Salvation

¹³ But we must always give thanks to God for you, brothers and sisters beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the first fruits^[c] for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and through belief in the truth.^{(F) 14} For this purpose he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.^(G)

²⁷ My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me.^{(A) 28} I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand.^(B)

A Tree and Its Fruit

¹⁵ “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.^(A)

¹³ It performs great signs, even making fire come down from heaven to earth in the sight of all,^{(A) 14} and by the signs that it is allowed to perform on behalf of the beast it deceives the inhabitants of earth, telling them to make an image for the beast that had been wounded by the sword^[a] and yet lived,^(B)

⁴⁸ Then Jesus said to him, “Unless you^[a] see signs and wonders you will not believe.”^(A)

⁶ Many will come in my name and say, ‘I am he!’^[a] and they will lead many astray.^(A)

⁸ The beast that you saw was and is not and is about to ascend from the bottomless pit and go to destruction. And the inhabitants of the earth, whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, will be amazed when they see the beast, because it was and is not and is to come.^(A)