2 Thessalonians 2
What Happens in This Chapter
Paul writes about the day our Lord Jesus Christ comes back and believers are gathered to him. He tells the church in Thessalonica not to be upset by anyone claiming that day has already arrived, because first there must be a falling away and the man of sin must be revealed. He describes that man's power, his end, and the people who are fooled because they would not love the truth. Paul then thanks God for the believers there, tells them to stand firm and hold on to what he taught them, and prays that God would comfort and strengthen them.
Plain reading written for kids. Short sentences, everyday words, one idea at a time.
Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,
1Now we have something to ask you, brothers and sisters. It is about the day our Lord Jesus Christ comes back. It is also about the day we will all be gathered to him.
2That 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.
2Do not let anyone shake you up or scare you. Some people say the Lord's day has already come. They may claim this comes from a spirit, a talk, or a letter from us. Do not believe them.
The King James wording says the day of Christ 'is at hand.' In old English that meant the day had already arrived, not that it was getting close.
3Let 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;
3Do not let anyone fool you in any way. That day will not come until many people turn away from God. And until the man of sin is shown to everyone. He is the one who is headed for ruin.
4Who 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.
4He fights against every god and everything people worship. He lifts himself up above them all. He even sits in God's temple and says that he is God.
5Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?
5Do you not remember? I told you all these things when I was still with you.
6And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.
6And you know what is holding him back right now. He will be shown at the right time.
7For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
7The hidden power of doing wrong is already at work. But someone is holding it back. He will keep holding it back until he is taken away.
The King James says 'he who now letteth will let.' Back in 1611, 'let' meant hold back or stop. That is the opposite of what 'let' means today.
8And 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:
8Then the man who breaks God's law will be shown to all. The Lord will destroy him with the breath of his mouth. The bright light of his coming will wipe him out.
9Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
9That man comes with the power of Satan. He does mighty things, signs, and wonders. But they are all lies.
10And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
10He uses every evil trick on people who are being lost. They are lost because they would not love the truth. The truth would have saved them.
11And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
11So God sends them something strong that fools them. They end up believing the lie.
12That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
12Then all of them will be judged. They did not believe the truth. Instead they were happy doing wrong.
13But 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:
13But we should always thank God for you, brothers and sisters. The Lord loves you. God chose you from the beginning to be saved. His Spirit makes you holy, and you believe the truth.
14Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
14God called you through the good news we told you. He called you to share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
15Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.
15So, brothers and sisters, stand firm. Hold on to the teachings we gave you. We taught you some by speaking and some by letter.
'Traditions' here means the teachings Paul handed on to them. It does not mean old customs or habits.
16Now 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,
16Our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father love us. He has been kind to us. He has given us comfort that lasts forever and good hope.
17Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.
17May they cheer up your hearts. May they make you strong in every good word you say and every good thing you do.
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