< 2 Thessalonians 2 >

1 Talking about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and how we're brought together to him, brother and sisters—
As to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and our being gathered to meet him, we beg you, friends,
2 please don't become upset or concerned by any spiritual revelation, or message, or letter supposedly from us that makes you think that the day of the Lord has already come.
not lightly to let your minds become unsettled or disturbed by any revelation, or by any message or letter purporting to come from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord is come.
3 Don't let anyone deceive you in any way, because the Rebellion must come first, and the lawless man be revealed, the one whose end is destruction.
Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way. For it will not come before the final rebellion against God, when lawlessness is revealed in human form, headed for destruction.
4 He is the enemy of God, and proudly sets himself up over everything that is called God and is worshiped. He even installs himself in God's Temple, claiming to be God.
He is the adversary of everything that is spoken of as a god or as an object of worship, enthroning himself in God’s Temple claiming to be God!
5 Don't you remember that I told you all this while I was still with you?
Don’t you remember how, when I was with you, I used to speak to you of all this?
6 Now you know what's keeping him in check, because he will be revealed for what he is at the appropriate time.
And you know now what the restraining influence is which prevents his appearing before his appointed time.
7 For the secret ways of lawlessness are already at work; however he who now restrains it will continue to do so until he is out of the way.
Wickedness, indeed, is already at work in secret, but only until he who at present restrains it is removed out of the way.
8 Then the lawless one will be revealed, the one whom the Lord Jesus will wipe out, blowing him away, destroying him by the brilliance of his coming.
Then the lawless person will be revealed, but the Lord Jesus will destroy him with the breath of his mouth, annihilate him by the splendor of his coming.
9 He (the lawless one) comes to do Satan's work, having all kinds of powers, using miracles, and performing amazing but deceptive displays.
When the lawless person comes, there will be great activity on the part of Satan, in the form of all kinds of deceptive miracles, signs, and marvels, as well as of wicked attempts to delude –
10 Using every type of evil trick he deludes those who are on their way to destruction, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.
to the ruin of those who are on the path to destruction, because they have never received and loved the truth to their own salvation.
11 Because of this God sends them a convincing delusion so that they put their trust in the lie.
That is why God places them under the influence of a delusion, to cause them to believe a lie;
12 As a result everyone who did not trust in the truth will be condemned, for they preferred what is evil.
so that sentence may be passed on all those who refuse to believe the truth, but delight in wickedness.
13 But we just have to keep on thanking God for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you to be saved through the Spirit who makes you right as you trust in the truth.
But, friends, whom the Lord loves, it is our duty always to thank God about you, for, from the first, God chose you for salvation through the purifying influence of the Spirit, and your belief in the truth.
14 This is what he called you to through the good news we shared with you, so that you could participate in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
To this you were called by the good news which we brought you, to attain to the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
15 So, brothers and sisters, stand firm, and hold on to what you've been taught, whether by what you were told, or through a letter from us.
Stand firm then, friends, and hold fast to the truths that we taught you, whether by word or by letter.
16 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God the Father (who through his grace gave us eternal confidence and a trustworthy hope), (aiōnios g166)
And may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and, in his loving kindness, gave us unfailing consolation and good ground for hope, (aiōnios g166)
17 encourage you and strengthen you so you can say and do everything that is good.
console your hearts, and strengthen you to do and to say all that is right.

< 2 Thessalonians 2 >