2 Thessalonians 2:3–17

^3aLet no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the ^1bapostasy comes first, and the ^cman of lawlessness is revealed, the ^dson of destruction,

⁴who opposes and exalts himself above ^1aevery so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, ^bdisplaying himself as being God.

⁵Do you not remember that ^awhile I was still with you, I was telling you these things?

⁶And you know ^awhat restrains him now, so that in his time he will be revealed.

⁷For ^athe mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only ^bhe who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way.

⁸Then that lawless one ^awill be revealed whom the Lord will slay ^bwith the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the ^cappearance of His ¹coming;

⁹that is, the one whose ¹coming is in accord with the activity of ^aSatan, with all power and ^2bsigns and false wonders,

¹⁰and with ¹all the deception of wickedness for ^athose who perish, because they did not receive the love of ^bthe truth so as to be saved.

¹¹For this reason ^aGod ¹will send upon them ²a ^bdeluding influence so that they will believe ³what is false,

¹²in order that they all may be ¹judged who ^adid not believe the truth, but ^2btook pleasure in wickedness.

^13aBut we should always give thanks to God for you, ^bbrethren beloved by the Lord, because ^cGod has chosen you ¹from the beginning ^dfor salvation ^2ethrough sanctification ³by the Spirit and faith in the truth.

¹⁴It was for this He ^acalled you through ^bour gospel, ¹that you may gain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

¹⁵So then, brethren, ^astand firm and ^bhold to the traditions which you were taught, whether ^cby word of mouth or by letter ¹from us.

^16aNow may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has ^bloved us and given us eternal comfort and ^cgood hope by grace,

^17acomfort and ^bstrengthen your hearts in every good work and word.