Stand Firm, Encourage One Another

Dearest brothers and sisters, both near and far, let us clarify some things about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and how we will be gathered to meet Him. Don’t let yourself be so easily shaken or alarmed by those who say that the day of the Lord has already begun or that it has already happened as some do even today. Don’t believe them, even if they claim to have had a spiritual vision, a revelation, or a teaching from those who know the truth. Don’t be fooled by what they say. For that day will not come until there is a great rebellion against God and the man of lawlessness, the antichrist, is revealed—he will be the one who brings destruction. He will exalt himself and defy everything that people call god and every object of worship, everything religious whether true or false. He will even sit in the temple of God, claiming that he himself is God.

Don’t forget that this is what the Apostles taught as inspired by the Holy Spirit! And you know what is holding him back, the Holy Spirit, Himself, for the antichrist can be revealed only when his time comes. For this lawlessness and corruption is already at work in the world secretly, and it will remain secret until the Holy Spirit who is holding it back steps out of the way. Then the man of lawlessness, the very antichrist himself, will be revealed, but the Lord Jesus will slay him with the breath of His mouth and destroy him by the splendor of His coming.

This man will come to do the work of Satan with counterfeit power and signs and miracles. They will be sensational. Do not be deceived by signs and wonders that give no glory to God. He will use every kind of evil deception to fool those who are already on their way to destruction, because they refuse to love and accept the truth that would save them. So God will cause them to be greatly deceived, and they will believe these lies. Then they will be condemned for enjoying evil rather than believing the truth. This will all be so that God can display His Almighty power and glory to the world.