⁸ For the Lord’s message rang out from you, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place that your faith^[a](A) in God has gone out. Therefore, we don’t need to say anything, ⁹ for they themselves report^[b] what kind of reception^(B) we had from you: how you turned^(C) to God from idols^(D) to serve the living^(E) and true^(F) God ¹⁰ and to wait^(G) for His Son^(H) from heaven, whom He raised from the dead^(I)—Jesus, who rescues us^(J) from the coming wrath.^(K)

The Man of Lawlessness

2 Now concerning the coming^(A) of our Lord^(B) Jesus Christ and our being gathered to Him: We ask you, brothers, ² not to be easily upset in mind or troubled, either by a spirit^(C) or by a message or by a letter as if from us, alleging that the Day of the Lord^[a](D) has come.^{(E) 3} Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way. For that day will not come unless the apostasy^[b] comes first and the man of lawlessness^[c] is revealed, the son of destruction. ⁴ He opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god^(F) or object of worship,^(G) so that he sits^[d] in God’s sanctuary,^[e] publicizing that he himself is God.

Exhortation and Benediction

²⁰ But you, dear friends, as you build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit,^{(A) 21} keep yourselves in the love of God,^(B) expecting the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ for eternal life. ²² Have mercy on those who doubt; ²³ save others by snatching them from the fire;^(C) have mercy on others but with fear,^(D) hating^(E) even the garment^(F) defiled by the flesh.

The New Creation

21 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth,^(A) for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea no longer existed.^{(B) 2} I also saw the Holy City, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God,^(C) prepared like a bride adorned for her husband.^(D)

³ Then I heard a loud voice from the throne:^[a]

⁵ Then the One seated on the throne said, “Look! I am making everything new.” He also said, “Write, because these words^[e] are faithful and true.”^{(J) 6} And He said to me, “It is done!^(K) I am the Alpha and the Omega,^(L) the Beginning and the End.^(M) I will give water as a gift to the thirsty^(N) from the spring of life.^{(O) 7} The victor^(P) will inherit these things, and I will be his God, and he will be My son.^{(Q) 8} But the cowards, unbelievers,^[f] vile, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars—their share will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur,^(R) which is the second death.”