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Man of Lawlessness

¹ Now we ask you, ^(C1)brothers and sisters, regarding the ^(F1)(C2)coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our ^(C3)gathering together to Him,² that you not be quickly shaken from your ^(F1)composure or be disturbed either by a ^(C1)spirit, or a ^(F2)(C2)message, or a ^(C3)letter as if from us, to the effect that ^(C4)the day of the Lord ^(C5)has come.^3 (C1)No one is to deceive you in any way! For it will not come unless the ^(F1)(C2)apostasy comes first, and the ^(C3)man of lawlessness is revealed, the ^(C4)son of destruction,⁴ who opposes and exalts himself above ^(F1)(C1)every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, ^(C2)displaying himself as being God.⁵ Do you not remember that ^(C1)while I was still with you, I was telling you these things?⁶ And you know ^(C1)what restrains him now, so that he will be revealed in his time.⁷ For ^(C1)the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only ^(F1)(C2)He who now restrains will do so until ^(F1)He is ^(F2)removed.⁸ Then that lawless one ^(C1)will be revealed, whom the Lord will eliminate ^(C2)with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the ^(C3)appearance of His ^(F1)coming;⁹ that is, the one whose ^(F1)coming is in accord with the activity of ^(C1)Satan, with all power and false ^(F2)(C2)signs and wonders,¹⁰ and with ^(F1)all the deception of wickedness for ^(C1)those who perish, because they did not accept the love of ^(C2)the truth so as to be saved.¹¹ For this reason ^(C1)God ^(F1)will send upon them ^(F2)a ^(C2)deluding influence so that they will believe ^(F3)what is false,¹² in order that they all may be ^(F1)judged who ^(C1)did not believe the truth, but ^(F2)(C2)took pleasure in wickedness.

Stand Firm

^13 (C1)But we should always give thanks to God for you, ^(C2)brothers and sisters beloved by the Lord, because ^(C3)God has chosen you ^(F1)from the beginning ^(C4)for salvation ^(F2)(C5)through sanctification ^(F3)by the Spirit and faith in the truth.¹⁴ It was for this He ^(C1)called you through ^(C2)our gospel, ^(F1)that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.¹⁵ So then, brothers and sisters, ^(C1)stand firm and ^(C2)hold on to the traditions which you were taught, whether ^(C3)by word of mouth or ^(C3)by letter ^(F1)from us.

^16 (C1)Now may our Lord Jesus Christ ^(C1)Himself and God our Father, who has ^(C2)loved us and given us eternal comfort and ^(C3)good hope by grace,^17 (C1)comfort and ^(C2)strengthen your hearts in every good work and word.