Fr. Mike Schmitz

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 perdition, 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.

Do you not remember that when I was still with you, I told you this?

And you know what is restraining him now so that he may be revealed in his time.

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.

And then the lawless one will be revealed and the Lord Jesus will slay him with the breath of his mouth and destroy him by his appearing and his coming.

The coming of the lawless one by the activity of Satan will be with all power and with pretended signs and wonders and with all wicked deception for those who are to perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.

Therefore God sends upon them a strong delusion to make them believe what is false so that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

Chosen for Salvation

But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God chose you from the beginning to be saved through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth.

To this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by letter.

Now, may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.

Chapter three, request for prayer.

Finally, brethren, pray for us that the word of the Lord may speed on and triumph as it did among you and that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men for not all have faith, but the Lord is faithful.

He will strengthen you and guard you from evil.

And we have confidence in the Lord about you that you are doing and will do the things which we command.

May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.

Warning against idleness.