1 B ut relative to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah) and our gathering together to Him, we beg you, brethren,

¶ Now we beseech you, brethren, regarding the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together unto him,

2 N ot to allow your minds to be quickly unsettled or disturbed or kept excited or alarmed, whether it be by some revelation of Spirit or by word or by letter from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has arrived and is here.

that ye not be easily shaken in understanding or be troubled neither by spirit nor by word nor by letter as from us, as if the day of Christ is at hand.

3 L et no one deceive or beguile you in any way, for that day will not come except the apostasy comes first '> falling away of those who have professed to be Christians has come], and the man of lawlessness (sin) is revealed, who is the son of doom (of perdition),

¶ Let no one deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come except there come a falling away first and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition,

4 W ho opposes and exalts himself so proudly and insolently against and over all that is called God or that is worshiped, taking his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming that he himself is God.

opposing and exalting himself against all that is called God, or divinity, so that he as God sits in the temple of God, making himself appear to be God.

5 D o you not recollect that when I was still with you, I told you these things?

Remember ye not, that when I was yet with you, I told you these things?

6 A nd now you know what is restraining him; it is so that he may be manifested (revealed) in his own time.

And ye know what impedes this now, that he might be revealed in his time.

7 F or the mystery of lawlessness (that hidden principle of rebellion against constituted authority) is already at work in the world, restrained only until he who restrains is taken out of the way.

For the mystery of iniquity is already working, except that he who dominates now will dominate until he is taken out of the way.

8 A nd then the lawless one (the antichrist) will be revealed and the Lord Jesus will slay him with the breath of His mouth and bring him to an end by His appearing at His coming.

And then shall that Wicked one be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the Spirit of his mouth and remove with the clarity of his coming:

9 T he coming is through the activity and working of Satan and will be attended by great power and with all sorts of miracles and signs and delusive marvels— lying wonders—

that wicked one, who shall come by the working of Satan with great power and signs and lying miracles,

10 A nd by unlimited seduction to evil and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing (going to perdition) because they did not welcome the Truth but refused to love it that they might be saved.

and with all deception of iniquity working in those that perish because they did not receive the charity of the truth, to be saved.

11 T herefore God sends upon them a misleading influence, a working of error and a strong delusion to make them believe what is false,

Therefore, for this cause, God shall send the operation of error in them, that they should believe the lie;

12 I n order that all may be judged and condemned who did not believe in the Truth, but took pleasure in unrighteousness.

that they all might be condemned who did not believe the truth, but consented to the iniquity.

13 B ut we, brethren beloved by the Lord, ought and are obligated to give thanks always to God for you, because God chose you from the beginning as His firstfruits (first converts) for salvation through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and belief in (adherence to, trust in, and reliance on) the Truth.

¶ But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren, beloved of the Lord, because God has from the beginning chosen you to saving health through the sanctification of the Spirit and faith in the truth,

14 t o this end that He called you through our Gospel, so that you may obtain and share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah).

unto which he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

15 S o then, brethren, stand firm and hold fast to the traditions and instructions which you were taught by us, whether by our word of mouth or by letter.

Therefore, brethren, stand fast and retain the doctrine which ye have been taught, whether by word or our epistle.

16 N ow may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, Who loved us and gave us everlasting consolation and encouragement and well-founded hope through grace (unmerited favor),

¶ Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God, even our Father, who has loved us and has given us eternal consolation and good hope through grace,

17 C omfort and encourage your hearts and strengthen them in every good work and word.

comfort your hearts and confirm you in every good word and work.