The Second Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Thessalonians

⭑ Douay-Rheims :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 2 -

And we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and of our gathering together unto him:

That you be not easily moved from your sense, nor be terrified, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by epistle, as sent from us, as if the day of the Lord were at hand.

Let no man deceive you by any means, for unless there come a revolt first, and the man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition,

Who opposeth, and is lifted up above all that is called God, or that is worshipped, so that he sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself as if he were God.

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

And now you know what withholdeth, that he may be revealed in his time.

For the mystery of iniquity already worketh; only that he who now holdeth, do hold, until he be taken out of the way.

And then that wicked one shall be revealed whom the Lord Jesus shall kill with the spirit of his mouth; and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming, him,

Whose coming is according to the working of Satan, in all power, and signs, and lying wonders,

And in all seduction of iniquity to them that perish; because they receive not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. Therefore God shall send them the operation of error, to believe lying:

That all may be judged who have not believed the truth, but have consented to iniquity.

But we ought to give thanks to God always for you, brethren, beloved of God, for that God hath chosen you firstfruits unto salvation, in sanctification of the spirit, and faith of the truth:

Stand Firm

Whereunto also he hath called you by our gospel, unto the purchasing of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Therefore, brethren, stand fast; and hold the traditions which you have learned, whether by word, or by our epistle.

Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God and our Father, who hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation, and good hope in grace,

Exhort your hearts, and confirm you in every good work and word.

Now, brothers, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to him, we ask you

not to be quickly shaken in your mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter as if from us, saying that the day of Christ has already come.

Let no one deceive you in any way. For it will not be unless the rebellion(a) comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of destruction.

He opposes and exalts himself against all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, setting himself up as God.

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

Now you know what is restraining him, to the end that he may be revealed in his own season.

For the mystery of lawlessness already works. Only there is one who restrains now, until he is taken out of the way.

Then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will kill with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the manifestation of his coming;

even he whose coming is according to the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,

and with all deception of wickedness for those who are being lost, because they didn’t receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

Because of this, God sends them a powerful delusion, that they should believe a lie,

that they all might be judged who didn’t believe the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

Stand Firm

But we are bound to always give thanks to God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because God chose you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief in the truth,

to which he called you through our Good News, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

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

Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace,

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

Footnotes

(a)2:3 or, falling away, or, defection