Common English Bible CEB
Revised Standard Version RSV
1 Brothers and sisters, we have a request for you concerning our Lord Jesus Christ's coming and when we are gathered together to be with him.
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Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our assembling to meet him, we beg you, brethren,
2 We don't want you to be easily confused in your mind or upset if you hear that the day of the Lord is already here, whether you hear it through some spirit, a message, or a letter supposedly from us.
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not to be quickly shaken in mind or excited, either by spirit or by word, or by letter purporting to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come.
3 Don't let anyone deceive you in any way. That day won't come unless the rebellion comes first and the person who is lawless is revealed, who is headed for destruction.
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Let no one deceive you in any way; for that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of perdition,
4 He is the opponent of every so-called god or object of worship and promotes himself over them. So he sits in God's temple, displaying himself to show that he is God.
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who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God.
5 You remember that I used to tell you these things while I was with you, don't you?
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Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you this?
6 Now you know what holds him back so that he can be revealed when his time comes.
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And you know what is restraining him now so that he may be revealed in his time.
7 The hidden plan to live without any law is at work now, but it will be secret only until the one who is holding it back is out of the way.
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For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way.
8 Then the person who is lawless will be revealed. The Lord Jesus will destroy him with the breath from his mouth. When the Lord comes, his appearance will put an end to him.
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And then the lawless one will be revealed, and the Lord Jesus will slay him with the breath of his mouth and destroy him by his appearing and his coming.
9 When the person who is lawless comes, it will happen through Satan's effort, with all kinds of fake power, signs, and wonders.
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The coming of the lawless one by the activity of Satan will be with all power and with pretended signs and wonders,
10 It will happen with every sort of wicked deception of those who are heading toward destruction because they have refused to love the truth that would allow them to be saved.
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and with all wicked deception for those who are to perish, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.
11 This is why God will send them an influence that will mislead them so that they will believe the lie.
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Therefore God sends upon them a strong delusion, to make them believe what is false,
12 The result will be that everyone will be judged who is not convinced by the truth but is happy with injustice.
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so that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
13 But we always must thank God for you, brothers and sisters who are loved by God. This is because he chose you from the beginning to be the first crop of the harvest. This brought salvation, through your dedication to God by the Spirit and through your belief in the truth.
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But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God chose you from the beginning to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth.
14 God called all of you through our good news so you could possess the honor of our Lord Jesus Christ.
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To this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
15 So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold on to the traditions we taught you, whether we taught you in person or through our letter.
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So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by letter.
16 Our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father loved us and through grace gave us eternal comfort and a good hope.
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Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace,
17 May he encourage your hearts and give you strength in every good thing you do or say.
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comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.
Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.