Dual Panel1Now we ask you, brothers, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our assembling to him,
2that you not be easily shaken from your composure, nor be troubled either by a spirit or by a message or by a letter _alleged to be from us_ , to the effect that the day of the Lord has arrived.
3Do not let anyone deceive you in any way, for [that day will not come] unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction,
4who opposes and who exalts himself over every so-called god or object of worship, so that he sits down in the temple of God, proclaiming that he himself is God.
5Do you not remember that [while] we were still with you, we were saying these [things] to you?
6And you know that which restrains [him] now, so that he will be revealed in his own time.
7For the mystery of lawlessness is at work already; only the one who now restrains [will do so] until he is out of the way,
8and then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will slay with the breath of his mouth, and wipe out by the appearance of his coming,
9whose coming is in accordance with the working of Satan, with all power and signs and lying wonders,
10and with every unrighteous deception against those who are perishing, in place of which they did not accept the love of the truth, so that they would be saved.
11And because of this, God sends them _a powerful delusion_ so that they will believe the lie,
12in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth, but delighted in unrighteousness.
13But we ought to give thanks to God always concerning you, brothers [dearly] loved by the Lord, because God has chosen you [as] first fruits for salvation by the sanctification of the Spirit and faith in the truth,
14for which [purpose] also he called you through our gospel for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
15So then, brothers, stand firm and hold fast to the traditions which you were taught, whether by [spoken] word or by letter from us.
16Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given [us] eternal encouragement and good hope by grace,
17encourage your hearts and strengthen [you] in every good work and word.