Though the cleansing was provided by the death of Christ on the cross, Israel did not experience this until she turned to the Lord as portrayed in this passage. The banishing of idols (v. 2) is a reference to the fact that the world dictator will set up an idol of himself in the temple and will be worshiped as God (2 Thes. 2:3–4; Rev. 13:14–15). There will be many false prophets in that day, and God will judge them as well (v. 3). The false prophets will attempt to deny that they are prophets (vv.