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

Hermanos, con respecto a la venida de nuestro Señor Jesucristo y nuestra reunión con él, les rogamos

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.

que no cambien fácilmente de manera de pensar. No se dejen asustar por nadie, ni siquiera por un espíritu, una palabra, o una carta que pretenda aparecer como nuestra, en el sentido de que el día del Señor está cerca.

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),

De ninguna manera se dejen engañar. Porque ese día no vendrá sin que antes venga la apostasía, y se manifieste el hombre de pecado, es decir, el hijo de perdición,

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.

el cual se opone y se enfrenta a todo lo que se llama Dios o es objeto de culto. Llega al grado de sentarse en el templo de Dios y de ocupar su lugar, haciéndose pasar por Dios.

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

¿No se acuerdan de que, cuando yo estaba todavía con ustedes, les advertía esto?

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

Y ahora ustedes saben bien qué es lo que lo detiene, a fin de que a su debido tiempo se manifieste.

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.

Porque el misterio de la iniquidad ya está en acción, sólo que en este momento hay quien lo detiene, hasta que él a su vez sea quitado de en medio.

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.

Entonces se manifestará ese malvado, a quien el Señor matará con el espíritu de su boca y destruirá con el resplandor de su venida.

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—

La llegada de este malvado, que es obra de Satanás, vendrá acompañada de gran poder y de señales y prodigios engañosos,

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.

y con toda falsedad e iniquidad para los que se pierden, por no haber querido recibir el amor de la verdad para ser salvados.

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,

Por eso Dios les envía un poder engañoso, para que crean a la mentira,

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

a fin de que sean condenados todos los que, lejos de creer a la verdad, se deleitaron en la injusticia. Escogidos para salvación

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.

Pero nosotros siempre debemos dar gracias a Dios por ustedes, hermanos amados por el Señor, de que desde el principio Dios los haya escogido para salvación, mediante la santificación por el Espíritu y la fe en la verdad.

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).

A esto los llamó por medio de nuestro evangelio, para que alcanzaran la gloria de nuestro Señor Jesucristo.

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.

Por lo tanto, hermanos, manténganse firmes y retengan la doctrina que personalmente y por carta les hemos enseñado.

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),

Que nuestro Señor Jesucristo mismo, y nuestro Dios y Padre, que nos amó y nos dio consuelo eterno y buena esperanza por gracia,

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

les infunda ánimo en el corazón y los confirme en toda buena palabra y obra.