The Message Bible MSG
English Standard Version ESV
1 Now, friends, read these next words carefully. Slow down and don't go jumping to conclusions regarding the day when our Master, Jesus Christ, will come back and we assemble to welcome him.
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Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers,
2 Don't let anyone shake you up or get you excited over some breathless report or rumored letter from me that the day of the Master's arrival has come and gone.
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not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come.
3 Don't fall for any line like that.
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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 destruction,
4 He'll defy and then take over every so-called god or altar. Having cleared away the opposition, he'll then set himself up in God's Temple as "God Almighty."
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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 Don't you remember me going over all this in detail when I was with you? Are your memories that short?
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Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things?
6 You'll also remember that I told you the Anarchist is being held back until just the right time.
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And you know what is restraining him now so that he may be revealed in his time.
7 That doesn't mean that the spirit of anarchy is not now at work. It is, secretly and underground.
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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 But the time will come when the Anarchist will no longer be held back, but will be let loose. But don't worry. The Master Jesus will be right on his heels and blow him away. The Master appears and - puff! - the Anarchist is out of there.
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And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming.
9 The Anarchist's coming is all Satan's work. All his power and signs and miracles are fake,
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The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders,
10 evil sleight of hand that plays to the gallery of those who hate the truth that could save them.
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and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.
11 And since they're so obsessed with evil, God rubs their noses in it - gives them what they want.
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Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false,
12 Since they refuse to trust truth, they're banished to their chosen world of lies and illusions.
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in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
13 Meanwhile, we've got our hands full continually thanking God for you, our good friends - so loved by God! God picked you out as his from the very start. Think of it: included in God's original plan of salvation by the bond of faith in the living truth.
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But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth.
14 This is the life of the Spirit he invited you to through the Message we delivered, in which you get in on the glory of our Master, 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, friends, take a firm stand, feet on the ground and head high. Keep a tight grip on what you were taught, whether in personal conversation or by our letter.
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So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter.
16 May Jesus himself and God our Father, who reached out in love and surprised you with gifts of unending help and confidence,
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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 put a fresh heart in you, invigorate your work, enliven your speech.
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comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®) © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2025