5. You remember that I used to tell you these things while I was with you, don’t you?
6. Now you know what holds him back so that he can be revealed when his time comes.
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.
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.
9. When the person who is lawless comes, it will happen through Satan’s effort, with all kinds of fake power, 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.
11. This is why God will send them an influence that will mislead them so that they will believe the lie.
12. The result will be that everyone will be judged who is not convinced by the truth but is happy with injustice.
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.
14. God called all of you through our good news so you could possess the honor 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.
16. Our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father loved us and through grace gave us eternal comfort and a good hope.