for many will come in my name, saying 'I am the Christ,' and they will mislead many.

Many false prophets will rise and mislead many. And in most of you love will grow cold by the increase of iniquity;

for false Christs and false prophets will rise and bring forward great signs and wonders, so as to mislead the very elect, ??if that were possible.

IN my former volume, Theophilus, I treated all that Jesus began by doing and teaching down to the day when, after issuing his orders by the holy Spirit to the disciples whom he had chosen, he was taken up to heaven. read more. After his sufferings he had shown them that he was alive by a number of proofs, revealing himself to them for forty days and discussing the affairs of God's Realm. Also, as he ate with them, he charged them not to leave Jerusalem but to wait for what the Father promised ??"for what you have heard me speak of," said he;

Also, as he ate with them, he charged them not to leave Jerusalem but to wait for what the Father promised ??"for what you have heard me speak of," said he; "for John baptized with water, but not many days after this you shall be baptized with the holy Spirit."

"for John baptized with water, but not many days after this you shall be baptized with the holy Spirit." Now when they met, they asked him, "Lord, is this the time you are going to restore the Realm to Israel?"

Now when they met, they asked him, "Lord, is this the time you are going to restore the Realm to Israel?" But he told them, "It is not for you to know the course and periods of time that the Father has fixed by his own authority.

But he told them, "It is not for you to know the course and periods of time that the Father has fixed by his own authority. You will receive power when the holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses at Jerusalem, throughout all Judaea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."

You will receive power when the holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses at Jerusalem, throughout all Judaea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." On saying this he was lifted up while they looked on, and a cloud took him out of sight.

On saying this he was lifted up while they looked on, and a cloud took him out of sight. As he went up, their eyes were fixed on heaven; but just then two men stood beside them dressed in white,

As he went up, their eyes were fixed on heaven; but just then two men stood beside them dressed in white, who said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up to heaven? This Jesus who has been taken from you into heaven will come back, just as you have seen him depart to heaven." read more. Then they made their way back to Jerusalem from the hill called 'The Olive-Orchard'; it is close to Jerusalem, only a sabbath day's journey from it.

During the course of the day of Pentecost they were all together,

During the course of the day of Pentecost they were all together, when suddenly there came a sound from heaven like a violent blast of wind, which filled the whole house where they were seated.

when suddenly there came a sound from heaven like a violent blast of wind, which filled the whole house where they were seated.

when suddenly there came a sound from heaven like a violent blast of wind, which filled the whole house where they were seated. They saw tongues like flames distributing themselves, one resting on the head of each,

They saw tongues like flames distributing themselves, one resting on the head of each, and they were all filled with the holy Spirit ??they began to speak in foreign tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to express themselves. read more. Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven staying in Jerusalem. So when this sound was heard, the multitude gathered in bewilderment, for each heard them speaking in his own language. All were amazed and astonished. "Are these not all Galileans," they said, "who are speaking? Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native tongue? Parthians, Medes, Elamites, residents in Mesopotamia, in Judaea and Cappadocia, in Pontus and Asia, in Phrygia and Pamphylia, in Egypt and the districts of Libya round Cyrene, visitors from Rome, Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians, we hear these men talking of the triumphs of God in our own languages!" They were all amazed and quite at a loss. "What can it mean?" they said to one another. Some others sneered, "They are brim-full of new wine!" But Peter stood up along with the eleven, and raising his voice he addressed them thus: "Men of Judaea and residents in Jerusalem, let everyone of you understand this ??attend to what I say: these men are not drunk, as you imagine. Why, it is only nine in the morning! No, this is what was predicted by the prophet Joel ??17 In the last days, saith God, then will I pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, your sons and daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions, your old men shall dream dreams:

Peter and John were on their way up to the temple for the hour of prayer at three in the afternoon, when a man lame from birth was carried past, who used to be laid every day at what was called the 'Beautiful Gate' of the temple, to ask alms from those who entered the temple. read more. When he noticed that Peter and John meant to go into the temple, he asked them for alms. Peter looked at him steadily, as did John, and said, "Look at us." The man attended, expecting to get something from them. But Peter said, "I have no silver or gold, but I will give you what I do have. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, [get up and] walk!" And catching him by the right hand he raised him. Instantly his feet and ankles grew strong, he leapt to his feet, started to walk, and accompanied them into the temple, walking, leaping, and praising God. When all the people saw him walking and praising God, and when they recognized this was the very man who used to sit and beg at the Gate Beautiful, they were lost in awe and amazement at what had happened to him. As he clung to Peter and John, all the people rushed awestruck to them in what was called Solomon's portico.

As he clung to Peter and John, all the people rushed awestruck to them in what was called Solomon's portico. But when Peter saw this, he said to the people, "Men of Israel, why are you surprised at this? Why do you stare at us, as if we had made him walk by any power or piety of ours? read more. The God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers has glorified Jesus his servant, whom you delivered up and repudiated before Pilate. Pilate had decided to release him, but you repudiated the Holy and Just One; the boon you asked was a murderer, and you killed the pioneer of Life. But God raised him from the dead, as we can bear witness. (He it is who has given strength to this man whom you see and know, by faith in His name; it is the faith He inspires which has made the man thus hale and whole before you all.) Now I know, brothers, that you acted in ignorance, like your rulers ??18 though this was how God fulfilled what he had announced beforehand by the lips of all the prophets, namely the sufferings of his Christ.

Now I know, brothers, that you acted in ignorance, like your rulers ??18 though this was how God fulfilled what he had announced beforehand by the lips of all the prophets, namely the sufferings of his Christ.

I know that when I am gone, fierce wolves will get in among you, and they will not spare the flock; yes. and men of your own number will arise with perversions of the truth to draw the disciples after them.

Surely you know, my brothers ??for I am speaking to men who know what law means ??that the law has hold over a person only during his lifetime! Thus a married woman is bound by law to her husband while he is alive; but if the husband dies, she is done with the law of 'the husband.' read more. Accordingly, she will be termed an adulteress if she becomes another man's while her husband is alive; but if her husband dies, she is freed from the law of 'the husband,' so that she is no adulteress if she becomes another man's. It is the same in your case, my brothers. The crucified body of Christ made you dead to the Law, so that you might belong to another, to him who was raised from the dead that we might be fruitful to God. For when we were unspiritual, the sinful cravings excited by the Law were active in our members and made us fruitful to Death; but now we are done with the Law, we have died to what once held us, so that we can serve in a new way, not under the written code as of old but in the Spirit.

Brothers, I beg of you to keep your eye on those who stir up dissensions and put hindrances in your way, contrary to the doctrine which you have been taught. Avoid them. Such creatures are no servants of Christ our Lord, they are slaves of their own base desires; with their plausible and pious talk they beguile the hearts of unsuspecting people. But surely not of you! read more. Everyone has heard of your loyalty to the gospel; it makes me rejoice over you. Still, I want you to be experts in good and innocents in evil. The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet! The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

What harmony can there be between Christ and Beliar, or what business has a believer with an unbeliever?

'Apostles'? They are spurious apostles, false workmen ??they are masquerading as 'apostles of Christ.' No wonder they do, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. read more. So it is no surprise if his ministers also masquerade as ministers of righteousness. Their doom will answer to their deeds.

Tell me, you who are keen to be under the Law, will you not listen to the Law? Surely it is written in the Law that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave-woman and one by the free-woman; read more. but while the son of the slave-woman was born by the flesh, the son of the free-woman was born by the promise. Now this is an allegory. The women are two covenants. One comes from mount Sinai, bearing children for servitude; that is Hagar, for mount Sinai is away in Arabia. She corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for the latter is in servitude with her children. But the Jerusalem on high is free, and she is 'our' mother. For it is written, Rejoice, O thou barren who bearest not, break into joy, thou who travailest not; for the children of the desolate woman are far more than of the married. Now you are the children of the Promise, brothers, like Isaac; but just as in the old days the son born by the flesh persecuted the son born by the Spirit, so it is still to-day. However, what does the scripture say? Put away the slave-woman and her son, for the son of the slave-woman shall not be heir along with the son of the free-woman. Hence we are children of no slave-woman, my brothers, but of the free-woman,

Paul and Silvanus and Timotheus, to the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: grace and peace to you.

who killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets, who harassed ourselves, who offend God and oppose all men

who killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets, who harassed ourselves, who offend God and oppose all men by hindering us from speaking words of salvation to the Gentiles. So they would fill up the measure of their sins to the last drop! But the Wrath is on them to the bitter end!

by hindering us from speaking words of salvation to the Gentiles. So they would fill up the measure of their sins to the last drop! But the Wrath is on them to the bitter end! Brothers, when we were bereft of you for a little while (out of sight, not out of mind), we were the more eager to see you. We had a keen longing for you.

So, unable to bear it any longer, I made up my mind to be left behind at Athens all alone;

But when Timotheus reached me a moment ago, on his return from you, bringing me the good news of your faith and love and of how you always remember me kindly, longing to see me as I long to see you, then, amid all my own distress and trouble, I was cheered ??this faith of yours encouraged me. read more. It is life to me now, if you stand firm in the Lord. How can I render thanks enough to God for you, for all the joy you make me feel in the presence of our God? Night and day I pray specially that I may see your faces and supply what is defective in your faith. May our God and Father and our Lord Jesus direct my way to you! And may the Lord make you increase and excel in love to one another and to all men (as is my love for you), so as to strengthen your hearts and make them blameless in holiness before our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones. [Amen.]

also, endeavour to live quietly, attend to your own business, and ??as we charged you ??work with your hands,

For we tell you, as the Lord has told us, that we the living, who survive till the Lord comes, are by no means to take precedence of those who have fallen asleep. The Lord himself will descend from heaven with a loud summons, when the archangel calls and the trumpet of God sounds; the dead in Christ will rise first; read more. then we the living, who survive, will be caught up along with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall be with the Lord for ever.

then we the living, who survive, will be caught up along with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall be with the Lord for ever.

You know perfectly well that the day of the Lord comes like a thief in the night; when 'all's well' and 'all is safe' are on the lips of men, then all of a sudden Destruction is upon them, like pangs on a pregnant woman ??escape there is none.

We beseech you, brothers, keep a check upon loafers, encourage the faint-hearted, sustain weak souls, never lose your temper with anyone;

PAUL and Silvanus and Timotheus, to the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:

and repay you who are troubled (as well as us) with rest and relief, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven together with the angels of his power

and repay you who are troubled (as well as us) with rest and relief, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven together with the angels of his power in flaming fire, to inflict punishment on those who ignore God, even on those who refuse obedience to the gospel of our Lord Jesus,

in flaming fire, to inflict punishment on those who ignore God, even on those who refuse obedience to the gospel of our Lord Jesus, men who will pay the penalty of being destroyed eternally from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might,

men who will pay the penalty of being destroyed eternally from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, when he comes to be glorified in his saints and marvelled at in all believers on that day (for our testimony has found confirmation in your lives).

With regard to the arrival of the Lord Jesus Christ and our muster before him, I beg you, brothers,

With regard to the arrival of the Lord Jesus Christ and our muster before him, I beg you, brothers,

With regard to the arrival of the Lord Jesus Christ and our muster before him, I beg you, brothers, not to let your minds get easily unsettled or excited by any spirit of prophecy or any declaration or any letter purporting to come from me, to the effect that the Day of the Lord is already here.

not to let your minds get easily unsettled or excited by any spirit of prophecy or any declaration or any letter purporting to come from me, to the effect that the Day of the Lord is already here.

not to let your minds get easily unsettled or excited by any spirit of prophecy or any declaration or any letter purporting to come from me, to the effect that the Day of the Lord is already here.

not to let your minds get easily unsettled or excited by any spirit of prophecy or any declaration or any letter purporting to come from me, to the effect that the Day of the Lord is already here.

not to let your minds get easily unsettled or excited by any spirit of prophecy or any declaration or any letter purporting to come from me, to the effect that the Day of the Lord is already here. Let nobody delude you into this belief, whatever he may say. It will not come till the Rebellion takes place first of all, with the revealing of the Lawless One, the doomed One,

Let nobody delude you into this belief, whatever he may say. It will not come till the Rebellion takes place first of all, with the revealing of the Lawless One, the doomed One,

Let nobody delude you into this belief, whatever he may say. It will not come till the Rebellion takes place first of all, with the revealing of the Lawless One, the doomed One,

Let nobody delude you into this belief, whatever he may say. It will not come till the Rebellion takes place first of all, with the revealing of the Lawless One, the doomed One,

Let nobody delude you into this belief, whatever he may say. It will not come till the Rebellion takes place first of all, with the revealing of the Lawless One, the doomed One,

Let nobody delude you into this belief, whatever he may say. It will not come till the Rebellion takes place first of all, with the revealing of the Lawless One, the doomed One, the adversary who vaunts himself above and against every so-called god or object of worship, actually seating himself in the temple of God with the proclamation that he himself is God.

the adversary who vaunts himself above and against every so-called god or object of worship, actually seating himself in the temple of God with the proclamation that he himself is God.

the adversary who vaunts himself above and against every so-called god or object of worship, actually seating himself in the temple of God with the proclamation that he himself is God.

the adversary who vaunts himself above and against every so-called god or object of worship, actually seating himself in the temple of God with the proclamation that he himself is God.

the adversary who vaunts himself above and against every so-called god or object of worship, actually seating himself in the temple of God with the proclamation that he himself is God.

the adversary who vaunts himself above and against every so-called god or object of worship, actually seating himself in the temple of God with the proclamation that he himself is God. Do you not remember I used to tell you this when I was with you?

Do you not remember I used to tell you this when I was with you?

Do you not remember I used to tell you this when I was with you?

Do you not remember I used to tell you this when I was with you? Well, you can recall now what it is that restrains him from being revealed before his appointed time.

Well, you can recall now what it is that restrains him from being revealed before his appointed time.

Well, you can recall now what it is that restrains him from being revealed before his appointed time.

Well, you can recall now what it is that restrains him from being revealed before his appointed time.

Well, you can recall now what it is that restrains him from being revealed before his appointed time.

Well, you can recall now what it is that restrains him from being revealed before his appointed time. For the secret force of lawlessness is at work already; only, it cannot be revealed till he who at present restrains it is removed.

For the secret force of lawlessness is at work already; only, it cannot be revealed till he who at present restrains it is removed.

For the secret force of lawlessness is at work already; only, it cannot be revealed till he who at present restrains it is removed.

For the secret force of lawlessness is at work already; only, it cannot be revealed till he who at present restrains it is removed.

For the secret force of lawlessness is at work already; only, it cannot be revealed till he who at present restrains it is removed.

For the secret force of lawlessness is at work already; only, it cannot be revealed till he who at present restrains it is removed.

For the secret force of lawlessness is at work already; only, it cannot be revealed till he who at present restrains it is removed.

For the secret force of lawlessness is at work already; only, it cannot be revealed till he who at present restrains it is removed. Then shall the Lawless One be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will destroy with the breath of his lips and quell by his appearing and arrival ??9 that One whose arrival is due to Satan's activity, with the full power, the miracles and portents, of falsehood,

Then shall the Lawless One be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will destroy with the breath of his lips and quell by his appearing and arrival ??9 that One whose arrival is due to Satan's activity, with the full power, the miracles and portents, of falsehood,

Then shall the Lawless One be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will destroy with the breath of his lips and quell by his appearing and arrival ??9 that One whose arrival is due to Satan's activity, with the full power, the miracles and portents, of falsehood,

Then shall the Lawless One be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will destroy with the breath of his lips and quell by his appearing and arrival ??9 that One whose arrival is due to Satan's activity, with the full power, the miracles and portents, of falsehood,

Then shall the Lawless One be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will destroy with the breath of his lips and quell by his appearing and arrival ??9 that One whose arrival is due to Satan's activity, with the full power, the miracles and portents, of falsehood,

and with the full deceitfulness of evil for those who are doomed to perish, since they refuse to love the Truth that would save them.

and with the full deceitfulness of evil for those who are doomed to perish, since they refuse to love the Truth that would save them.

and with the full deceitfulness of evil for those who are doomed to perish, since they refuse to love the Truth that would save them.

and with the full deceitfulness of evil for those who are doomed to perish, since they refuse to love the Truth that would save them. Therefore God visits them with an active delusion, till they put faith in falsehood,

Therefore God visits them with an active delusion, till they put faith in falsehood,

Therefore God visits them with an active delusion, till they put faith in falsehood,

Therefore God visits them with an active delusion, till they put faith in falsehood, so that all may be doomed who refuse faith in the Truth but delight in evil.

so that all may be doomed who refuse faith in the Truth but delight in evil.

so that all may be doomed who refuse faith in the Truth but delight in evil.

so that all may be doomed who refuse faith in the Truth but delight in evil.

Well then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the rules which you have learned from us orally or by letter.

and that we may be delivered from perverse and evil men ??for the faith is not held by all.

The salutation is in my own hand, Paul's; that is a mark in every letter of mine. This is how I write.

Children, it is the last hour. You have learned that 'Antichrist is coming.' Well, but many antichrists have appeared ??which makes us sure it is the last hour.

Children, it is the last hour. You have learned that 'Antichrist is coming.' Well, but many antichrists have appeared ??which makes us sure it is the last hour.

Children, it is the last hour. You have learned that 'Antichrist is coming.' Well, but many antichrists have appeared ??which makes us sure it is the last hour.

Who is the real liar? who but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is 'antichrist,' he who disowns the Father and the Son.

Who is the real liar? who but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is 'antichrist,' he who disowns the Father and the Son.

and every spirit which does not confess Jesus [incarnate] does not come from God. This latter is the spirit of antichrist; you were told it was coming, and here it is already in the world.

Then I saw another Beast rising from the land; he had two horns like a lamb, but he spoke like a dragon. He exerts the full authority of the first Beast in his presence, causing the earth and its inhabitants to worship the first Beast, whose deadly wound was healed. read more. He performs amazing miracles, even making fire descend from heaven on earth in the sight of men, and by dint of the miracles he is allowed to perform in presence of the Beast, he seduces the dwellers on earth; he bids the dwellers on earth erect a statue to the Beast who lived after being wounded by the sword, and to this statue of the Beast he was allowed to impart the breath of life, so that the statue of the Beast should actually speak. He has everyone put to death who will not worship the statue of the Beast, and he obliges all men, low and high, rich and poor, freemen and slaves alike, to have a mark put upon their right hand or their forehead, so that no one can buy or sell unless he bears the mark, that is, the name of the Beast or the cipher of his name. Now for the gift of interpretation! Let the discerning calculate the cipher of the Beast; it is the cipher of a man, and the figures are six hundred and sixty-six.

But the Beast was seized, together with the false Prophet who had performed in his presence the miracles by means of which he seduced those who received the mark of the Beast and worshipped his statue; both of them were flung alive into the lake of fire that blazes with brimstone, while the rest were killed by the sword of him who is seated on the horse, by the sword that issues from his lips. And all the birds were glutted with their flesh.

and their seducer, the devil, was flung into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the Beast and the false Prophet also lie, to be tortured day and night for ever and ever.

to the one a deadly fragrance that makes for death, to the other a vital fragrance that makes for life. And who is qualified for this career? I am, for I am not like most, adulterating the word of God; like a man of sincerity, like a man of God, I speak the word in Christ before the very presence of God.

though whenever they turn to the Lord, the veil is removed. (The Lord means the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is open freedom.) read more. But we all mirror the glory of the Lord with face unveiled, and so we are being transformed into the same likeness as himself, passing from one glory to another ??for this comes of the Lord the Spirit.

PAUL and Silvanus and Timotheus, to the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: