Events Before the Day of the Lord
Study note
Paul addresses the Thessalonians' alarm that the day of Christ had already arrived, a claim apparently circulated through a spirit, spoken word, or letter falsely attributed to Paul. He emphatically corrects this: that day will not come until the great falling away occurs first and the man of sin, the son of perdition, is revealed. This figure will oppose and exalt himself above all that is called God, even sitting in God's temple and claiming to be God. Paul reminds them that he had taught these things during his time with them.
1 Now, brothers and sisters, we need to talk about the day our Lord Jesus Christ comes back. He will gather us all together to be with him. Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,
2 Do not let anyone shake you up or scare you into thinking the day of Christ has already come. Do not believe it even if someone says a spirit told them. Do not believe it even if they show you a letter that looks like it came from us. That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
3 Do not let anyone fool you in any way. That day will not come until there is a great turning away from God first, and until the man of sin shows up -- the one who is headed for destruction. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
4 This man will stand against everything that people call God or worship. He will put himself above it all. He will even sit down in God's temple and announce that he himself is God. Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
5 Do you not remember that I told you all of this when I was still there with you? Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?
The Restrainer and the Wicked One
Study note
A mysterious restraining force currently holds back the full revelation of the man of lawlessness, though the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. When the restrainer is removed, the Wicked One will be revealed, only to be destroyed by the breath of Christ's mouth at his coming. This lawless figure will operate through Satan's power with counterfeit signs and wonders, deceiving those who reject the truth. God himself will send a strong delusion upon those who refused to love the truth, so that they believe the lie and face condemnation.
6 You already know what is holding him back right now, so that he will only appear when the right time comes. And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.
7 The hidden force of evil is already doing its work in the world. But someone is holding it back, and he will keep holding it back until he steps aside. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
8 Then the Wicked One will come out into the open. But the Lord Jesus will wipe him out with just the breath from his mouth and will destroy him by the sheer brightness of his return. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
9 When the Wicked One arrives, he will come with Satan's power behind him. He will perform all kinds of fake miracles, signs, and wonders. Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
10 He will use every kind of evil trick to fool those who are on their way to being lost. They will be lost because they refused to love the truth that could have saved them. And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
11 Because they chose this, God will let them be completely fooled so that they will believe what is false. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
12 Then everyone who refused to believe what is true and who enjoyed doing evil will face judgment. That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
Stand Firm in the Truth
Study note
In stark contrast to those destined for delusion, Paul thanks God that the Thessalonians were chosen from the beginning for salvation through the Spirit's sanctifying work and their belief in the truth. He urges them to stand firm and hold to the teachings received through his preaching and his letters. The chapter closes with a prayer that Christ and the Father, who have given eternal comfort and good hope through grace, would strengthen their hearts in every good word and work.
13 But we will never stop thanking God for you, brothers and sisters. The Lord loves you, and God chose you right from the start to be saved by the Holy Spirit making you holy and by your belief in what is true. But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:
14 That is what he called you to through the good news we brought you -- so that you could share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
15 So stand your ground, brothers and sisters. Hold tightly to the teachings we gave you, whether we spoke them to you in person or wrote them in a letter. Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.
16 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father encourage you. He loved us and, through his grace, gave us comfort that will never end and a hope that is truly good. Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace,
17 May he fill your hearts with courage and make you strong in every good thing you say and do. Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.