Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers and sisters,
not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord is already here.
Let no one deceive you in any way; for that day will not come unless the rebellion comes first and the lawless one is revealed, the one destined for destruction.
He opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God.
Do you not remember that I told you these things when I was still with you?
And you know what is restraining him now so that he may be revealed when his time comes.
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.
Then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will destroy with the breath of his mouth and bring to an end by the manifestation of his coming.
The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders,
and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.
Therefore God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe what is false,
in order that all may be judged who did not believe the truth but took pleasure in wickedness.
But we must always give thanks to God for you, brothers and sisters beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the first fruits for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and through belief in the truth.
For this purpose he called you through our proclamation of the good news, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by our letter.
Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and through grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope,
encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.
This is the Patristics text that appears when you select Patristics.
