⁸ “While I was thinking about the horns, there before me was another horn, a little^(A) one, which came up among them; and three of the first horns were uprooted before it. This horn had eyes like the eyes of a human being^(B) and a mouth that spoke boastfully.^(C)

¹¹ “Then I continued to watch because of the boastful words the horn was speaking.^(A) I kept looking until the beast was slain and its body destroyed and thrown into the blazing fire.^(B)

²⁰ I also wanted to know about the ten horns^(A) on its head and about the other horn that came up, before which three of them fell—the horn that looked more imposing than the others and that had eyes and a mouth that spoke boastfully.^(B)

²⁵ He will speak against the Most High^(A) and oppress his holy people^(B) and try to change the set times^(C) and the laws. The holy people will be delivered into his hands for a time, times and half a time.^[a](D)

The King Who Exalts Himself

³⁶ “The king will do as he pleases. He will exalt and magnify himself^(A) above every god and will say unheard-of things^(B) against the God of gods.^(C) He will be successful until the time of wrath^(D) is completed, for what has been determined must take place.^(E)

³ Don’t let anyone deceive you^(A) in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion^(B) occurs and the man of lawlessness^[a] is revealed,^(C) the man doomed to destruction. ⁴ He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God^(D) or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.^(E)

⁵ Don’t you remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things?^{(F) 6} And now you know what is holding him back,^(G) so that he may be revealed at the proper time. ⁷ For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back^(H) will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. ⁸ And then the lawless one will be revealed,^(I) whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth^(J) and destroy by the splendor of his coming.^{(K) 9} The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan^(L) works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders^(M) that serve the lie, ¹⁰ and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing.^(N) They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.^{(O) 11} For this reason God sends them^(P) a powerful delusion^(Q) so that they will believe the lie^{(R) 12} and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.^(S)

Stand Firm

¹³ But we ought always to thank God for you,^(T) brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you as firstfruits^[b](U) to be saved^(V) through the sanctifying work of the Spirit^(W) and through belief in the truth. ¹⁴ He called you^(X) to this through our gospel,^(Y) that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

¹⁵ So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm^(Z) and hold fast to the teachings^[c] we passed on to you,^(AA) whether by word of mouth or by letter.

¹⁶ May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father,^(AB) who loved us^(AC) and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, ¹⁷ encourage^(AD) your hearts and strengthen^(AE) you in every good deed and word.