II Thessalonians 2

1. Now we beseech you, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him,

2. That you not be quickly shaken in mind, nor be troubled—neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by epistle, as if from us, saying that the day of Christ is present.

3. Do not let anyone deceive you by any means because that day will not come unless the apostasy shall come first, and the man of sin shall be revealed—the son of perdition,

4. The one who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God, or that is an object of worship; so that he comes into the temple of God and sits down as God, proclaiming that he himself is God.

5. Do you not remember that when I was still with you, I told you these things?

6. And now you understand what is holding him back in order for him to be revealed in his own set time.

7. For the mystery of lawlessness is already working; only there is one Who is restraining at the present time until it arises out of the midst.

8. And then the lawless one will be revealed (whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth, and will destroy with the brightness of His coming);

9. Even the one whose coming is according to the inner working of Satan, with all power and signs and lying wonders,

10. And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in those who are perishing because they did not receive the love of the truth, so that they might be saved.

11. And for this cause, God will send upon them a powerful deception that will cause them to believe the lie,

12. So that all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but who took pleasure in unrighteousness.

13. Now we are duty-bound to give thanks to God always concerning you, brethren, who are beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning has called you unto salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth

14. Unto which He called you by our gospel to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

15. So then, brethren, stand firm, and hold fast the ordinances that you were taught, whether by word or by our epistle.

16. Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and God—even our Father, Who loved us and gave us eternal encouragement and good hope through grace—

17. Encourage your hearts and establish you in every good word and work.