1Now, brothers, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to Him, ²¹we urge you

2not to be quickly shaken from your conviction or disturbed, whether by a spirit ²²or a word or a letter as from us, ²³as though the Day of Christ ²⁴has come.

The man of sin

3Do not let anyone deceive you by any means; because that day cannot come unless the rebellion ²⁵comes first and the man of sin ²⁶is revealed, the son of ruin, ²⁷

4who opposes and exalts himself over everything that is called a god or an object of worship, to the point of taking his seat as God ²⁸in God's sanctuary, ²⁹proclaiming himself to be God.

5(Don't you remember that I used to tell you these things while still with you?) ³⁰

The Restrainer

6So now you know what is restraining, to the end that he ³¹may be revealed at his own time.

7For the mystery of the lawlessness is already at work; ³²only He who now restrains will do so until He removes Himself. ³³

8And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and abolish by the splendor of His coming; ³⁴

9that one's coming is according to the working of Satan with all power ³⁵and signs and lying wonders,

10and with all wicked deception among those who are wasting themselves, ³⁶because they did not receive the love of the truth ³⁷so that they might be saved. ³⁸

Believing ‘the lie’

11Yes, because of this God will send them an active delusion ³⁹so that they will believe the lie ⁴⁰

12and so that all may be condemned who have not believed the truth but have taken pleasure in wickedness. ⁴¹

13Now we are obligated to always give thanks to God about you, brothers loved by the Lord, because from the beginning ⁴²God chose you into salvation, through sanctification of spirit and belief in truth,

14to which ⁴³He called you through our gospel, so as to obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁴⁴

15So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions ⁴⁵that you were taught by us, whether by word or by letter.

Another model prayer

16Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort ⁴⁶and good hope, by grace,

17encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good word and work. ⁴⁷