1Now concerning the coming 1Th 1:10; 1Jn 2:28 of our Lord Rv 11:8 Jesus Christ and our being gathered to Him: We ask you, brothers,

2not to be easily upset in mind or troubled, either by a spirit 1Jn 4:1 or by a message or by a letter as if from us, alleging that the Day of the Lord Other mss read Christ Mt 25:13; Ac 2:20; Php 1:6 has come. 2Tm 2:18; 1Jn 2:28

3Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way. For that day will not come unless the apostasy Or rebellion comes first and the man of lawlessness Other mss read man of sin is revealed, the son of destruction.

4He opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god 1Co 8:5 or object of worship, Is 14:12-15; Ezk 28:2; Ac 17:23 so that he sits Other mss add as God in God’s sanctuary, Or temple publicizing that he himself is God.

5Don’t you remember that when I was still with you I told you about this?

6And you know what currently restrains him, so that he will be revealed in his time. Lk 21:8

7For the mystery of lawlessness Mt 13:41 is already at work, but the one now restraining will do so until he is out of the way,

8and then the lawless one will be revealed. The Lord Jesus will destroy him with the breath of His mouth Is 11:4; 30:28 and will bring him to nothing with the brightness of His coming.

9The coming of the lawless one is based on Satan’s working, with all kinds of false miracles, signs, and wonders, Mt 24:24; Mk 13:22; Rv 13:13

10and 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. Ac 16:30; Eph 2:8

11For this reason God sends them a strong delusion so that they will believe what is false,

12so that all will be condemned Jn 5:22-30 — those who did not believe Jn 6:64 the truth but enjoyed unrighteousness.

13But we must always thank God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because from the beginning Other mss read because as a firstfruit God has chosen Rm 9:11; 11:5; Eph 1:4; 1Th 1:4 you for salvation through sanctification Rm 6:19; 1Co 1:30; 1Th 4:3; 1Tm 2:15; Heb 12:14; 1Pt 1:2 by the Spirit and through belief in the truth.

14He called you to this through our gospel, so that you might obtain the glory Lk 9:32; Jn 17:24; 2Co 3:18; 1Pt 5:1,4; 2Pt 3:18 of our Lord Jesus Christ.

15Therefore, brothers, stand firm Rm 14:4; 1Co 16:13; Php 1:27 and hold to the traditions you were taught, Mk 7:3; 1Tm 4:11; Jd 3 either by our message or by our letter.

16May our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved Jn 3:16; Rv 12:11 us and given us eternal encouragement and good hope by grace,

17encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good work and word.