Paul now goes on to combat the unsettling prophecy which was circulating as having been from himself, that the second coming of Christ had already taken place! "Don't be deceived", says Paul, "because this will not happen before the man of lawlessness is revealed... he opposes everything that is called God... and proclaimed himself to be God... the secret power of lawlessness is already at work... but the lawless one will be revealed whom Jesus will overthrow... the lawless one will do the work of Satan with counterfeit miracles... and God will send the unbelievers delusion so that they believe the lie... and all of them will be condemned... but we thank God that God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth... so stand firm and hold to the teachings of the word... and may the Lord Jesus encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word".
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