Shared Word Translation
2 Thessalonians 2
The Coming of the Lord and the Lawless One
Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers and sisters, not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a word or a letter as though from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come.
Let no one 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, who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, declaring himself to be God. Do you not remember that when I was still with you I was telling you these things? And now you know what restrains him, so that he may be revealed in his time.
For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only the one who now restrains it will do so until he is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming.
The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and signs and false wonders, and with all deception of unrighteousness for those who are perishing, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved.
And for this reason God sends them a working of delusion so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be judged who did not believe the truth but took pleasure in unrighteousness.
Stand Firm
But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers and sisters beloved by the Lord, because God chose you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, to which he called you through our good news, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught, whether by word or by our letter.
Prayer for Encouragement
Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and strengthen them in every good work and word.