2Th 2 | HCSB | STEP | Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to Him : We ask you , brothers ,

2 Thessalonians 2

The Man of Lawlessness

1 Now concerning the coming ^a of our Lord ^b Jesus Christ and our being gathered to Him: We ask you, ^{▼▼brother(s): The Greek word adelphoi can be used as a reference to males only or to groups that include males and females. It is the context of each usage that determines the proper meaning.}brothers, 2 not to be easily upset in mind or troubled, either by a spirit ^d or by a message or by a letter as if from us, alleging that the Day of the Lord ^{▼▼Other mss read Christ
,} ^f has come. ^g 3 Don’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. 4 He opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god ^j or object of worship, ^k so that he sits ^{▼▼Other mss add as God} in God’s sanctuary, ^{▼▼Or temple} publicizing that he himself is God.

5 Don’t you remember that when I was still with you I told you about this? 6 And you know what currently restrains him, so that he will be revealed in his time. ⁿ 7 For the ^{▼▼Mystery: Transliteration of the Greek word mysterion; a secret hidden in the past but now revealed}mystery of lawlessness ^p is already at work, but the one now restraining will do so until he is out of the way, 8 and then the lawless one will be revealed. The Lord Jesus will destroy him with the breath of His mouth ^q and will bring him to nothing with the brightness of His coming. 9 The coming of the lawless one is based on Satan’s working, with all kinds of false miracles, signs, and wonders, ^r 10 and 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. ^s 11 For this reason God sends them a strong delusion so that they will believe what is false, 12 so that all will be condemned ^t – those who did not believe ^u the truth but enjoyed unrighteousness.

Stand Firm

13 But 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 ^w you for salvation through ^{▼▼saint(s)/sanctification/sanctify/sanctified: The work of the Holy Spirit that separates believers in Jesus from the world; at the time of saving faith in Jesus, the believer is made a saint; therefore, all believers are saints. The believer participates with the Spirit in a process of transformation that continues until glorification. The goal of sanctification is progressive conformity to the image of Jesus Christ.}sanctification ^y by the Spirit and through belief in the truth. 14 He called you to this through our gospel, so that you might obtain the glory ^z of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15 Therefore, brothers, stand firm ^aa and hold to the traditions you were taught, ^ab either by our message or by our letter.

16 May our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved ^ac us and given us eternal encouragement and good hope by grace, 17 encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good work and word.