4. He will boast and oppose everything that is holy or sacred. He will even sit in God's temple and claim to be God.
5. Don't you remember that I told you this while I was still with you?
6. You already know what is holding this wicked one back until it is time for him to come.
7. His mysterious power is already at work, but someone is holding him back. And the wicked one won't appear until that someone is out of the way.
8. Then he will appear, but the Lord Jesus will kill him simply by breathing on him. He will be completely destroyed by the Lord's glorious return.
9. When the wicked one appears, Satan will pretend to perform all kinds of miracles, wonders, and signs.
10. Lost people will be fooled by his evil deeds. They could be saved, but they will refuse to love the truth and accept it.
11. So God will make sure that they are fooled into believing a lie.
12. All of them will be punished, because they would rather do evil than believe the truth.