2 Thessalonians 2:1–17

The Man of Lawlessness

2 Now concerning the coming z of our Lord a Jesus Christ and our being gathered to Him: We ask you, * brothers, 2 not to be easily upset in mind or troubled, either by a spirit b or by a message or by a letter as if from us, alleging that the Day of the Lord c d has come. e 3 Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way. For that day will not come unless the apostasy f comes first and the man of lawlessness g is revealed, the son of destruction. 4 He opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god h or object of worship, i so that he sits j in God’s sanctuary, k publicizing that he himself is God.

5 Don’t you remember that when I was still with you I told you about this? 6 And you know what currently restrains him, so that he will be revealed in his time. l 7 For the * mystery of lawlessness m 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 n and will bring him to nothing with the brightness of His coming. 9 The coming of the lawless one is based on Satan’s working, with all kinds of false miracles, signs, and wonders, o 10 and with every unrighteous deception among those who are perishing. They perish because they did not accept the love of the truth in order to be saved. p 11 For this reason God sends them a strong delusion so that they will believe what is false, 12 so that all will be condemned q—those who did not believe r the truth but enjoyed unrighteousness.

Stand Firm

13 But we must always thank God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because from the beginning s God has chosen t you for salvation through * sanctification u by the Spirit and through belief in the truth. 14 He called you to this through our gospel, so that you might obtain the glory v of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15 Therefore, brothers, stand firm w and hold to the traditions you were taught, x either by our message or by our letter.

16 May our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved y us and given us eternal encouragement and good hope by grace, 17 encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good work and word.