2 Tessalonicenses 2

The Great Apostasy

1 Now, brethren, *Mark 13:26; (1 Thess. 4:15–17)concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ *Matt. 24:31and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, 2 *Matt. 24:4not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. 3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for thatDaywillnotcome*1 Tim. 4:1unless the falling away comes first, and *Dan. 7:25; 8:25; 11:36; 2 Thess. 2:8; Rev. 13:5the man of sin is revealed, *John 17:12the son of perdition, 4 who opposes and *Is. 14:13, 14; Ezek. 28:2exalts himself *1 Cor. 8:5above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.

5 Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? 6 And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. 7 For *1 John 2:18the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains willdoso until He is taken out of the way. 8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, *Dan. 7:10whom the Lord will consume *Is. 11:4; Rev. 2:16; 19:15with the breath of His mouth and destroy *Heb. 10:27with the brightness of His coming. 9 The coming of the lawlessone is *John 8:41according to the working of Satan, with all power, *Deut. 13:1signs, and lying wonders, 10 and with all unrighteous deception among *2 Cor. 2:15those who perish, because they did not receive *1 Cor. 16:22the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And *Rom. 1:28for this reason God will send them strong delusion, *1 Tim. 4:1that they should believe the lie, 12 that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but *Rom. 1:32; 1 Cor. 13:6had pleasure in unrighteousness.

Stand Fast

13 But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God *Eph. 1:4from the beginning *1 Thess. 1:4chose you for salvation *1 Thess. 4:7; (1 Pet. 1:2)through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, 14 to which He called you by our gospel, for *1 Pet. 5:10the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15 Therefore, brethren, *1 Cor. 16:13stand fast and hold *Rom. 6:17; 1 Cor. 11:2; 2 Thess. 3:6; Jude 3the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle.

16 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, *(Rev. 1:5)who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and *Titus 3:7; 1 Pet. 1:3good hope by grace, 17 comfort your hearts *1 Cor. 1:8and establish you in every good word and work.