1 ¶ Now, brethren, in regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and our being gathered together to meet him, we ask you

2 Not to be so easily upset, or alarmed, either by revelation, word, or letter allegedly from us, claiming that the day of Christ has arrived.

3 ¶ Let no one deceive you by any means: for that day will not come unless it is preceded by a great apostasy, and that man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition;

4 Who opposes and exalts himself over everything that is called God, or is worshipped; so that he sits as God in the temple of God, and says that he is God.

5 Don’t you remember that I told you these things when I was still with you?

6 And now you know what is holding him back, so that he will be revealed in his time.

7 For the secret wickedness is already at work: but the one who is now holding it back will do so, until he is taken out of the way.

8 And then the wicked one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will consume with the spirit of his mouth, and will destroy with the brightness of his coming:

9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,

10 And with all the deceitfulness of unrighteousness in those who perish; because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

11 And for this reason God will send them a powerful delusion, so that they will believe lies:

12 That all who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness, might be damned.

13 ¶ But we always need to thank God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God chose you from the beginning unto salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and through faith in the truth:

14 To this end he called you by our gospel, to obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

15 Therefore, brethren, stand firm, and hold fast to the instructions that you were taught, either by what we said, or our letter.

16 ¶ Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us, and by his grace has given us an everlasting comfort and well-founded hope,

17 Comfort your hearts, and strengthen you in every good word and deed.