1Now we beg you, brothers and sisters, about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and about our being gathered together to him:
2do not let your minds be shaken so easily, and do not be troubled. Do not be shaken by any spirit, or by any word, or by any letter that seems to come from us, saying that the day of Christ is already here.
3Do not let anyone deceive you in any way. For that day will not come until there is first a falling away, and that man of sin is revealed, the son of destruction.
4He sets himself against everything that is called God, or that is worshipped, and lifts himself above it all. He even sits in the temple of God as God, showing himself to be God.
5Do you not remember that I told you these things while I was still with you?
6And now you know what is holding him back, so that he will be revealed at his own time.
7For the secret power of sin is already at work. Only the one who now holds it back will hold it back, until he is taken out of the way.
8And then that Wicked One will be revealed. The Lord will destroy him with the breath of his mouth, and will bring him to nothing by the brightness of his coming.
9That man comes by the working of Satan, with all power and signs and lying wonders,
10and with every deceit of unrighteousness among those who perish. They perish because they did not receive the love of the truth, so that they might be saved.
11For this reason God will send them a strong delusion, so that they will believe a lie.
12So they will all be condemned, because they did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in unrighteousness.
13But we must always give thanks to God for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord. For God chose you from the beginning to be saved, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and belief of the truth.
14He called you to this by our gospel, so that you would obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
15So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm. Hold on to the teachings you were given, whether by word or by our letter.
16Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting comfort and good hope through grace,
17comfort your hearts, and make you strong in every good word and work.