⁸ While I was thinking about the horns, behold, ^(A)another horn, a little one, came up among them, and three of the previous horns were plucked out before it; and behold, ^[a]this horn possessed eyes like human eyes, and ^(B)a mouth uttering great boasts.

¹¹ Then I kept looking because of the sound of the ^[a]boastful words which the horn was speaking; I kept looking until the beast was killed, and its body was destroyed and given to the ^(A)burning ^[b]fire.

²⁰ and the meaning of the ten horns that were on its head, and the other horn which came up, and before which three of the horns fell, namely, that horn which had eyes and a mouth uttering great boasts, and ^[a]which was larger in appearance than its associates.

²⁵ And he will ^[a](A)speak against the ^(B)Most High and ^(C)wear down the ^[b]saints of the Highest One, and he will intend to make ^(D)alterations in times and in law; and ^[c]they will be handed over to him for a ^[d](E)time, ^[e]times, and half a ^[f]time.

³⁶ “Then the king will ^(A)do as he pleases, and he will exalt himself and ^(B)boast against every god and will ^(C)speak ^[a]dreadful things against the ^(D)God of gods; and he will be successful until the ^(E)indignation is finished, because that which is ^(F)determined will be done.

^3 (A)No one is to deceive you in any way! For it will not come unless the ^[a](B)apostasy comes first, and the ^(C)man of lawlessness is revealed, the ^(D)son of destruction, ⁴ who opposes and exalts himself above ^[b](E)every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, ^(F)displaying himself as being God. ⁵ Do you not remember that ^(G)while I was still with you, I was telling you these things? ⁶ And you know ^(H)what restrains him now, so that he will be revealed in his time. ⁷ For ^(I)the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only ^[c](J)He who now restrains will do so until ^[d]He is ^[e]removed. ⁸ Then that lawless one ^(K)will be revealed, whom the Lord will eliminate ^(L)with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the ^(M)appearance of His ^[f]coming; ⁹ that is, the one whose ^[g]coming is in accord with the activity of ^(N)Satan, with all power and false ^[h](O)signs and wonders, ¹⁰ and with ^[i]all the deception of wickedness for ^(P)those who perish, because they did not accept the love of ^(Q)the truth so as to be saved. ¹¹ For this reason ^(R)God ^[j]will send upon them ^[k]a ^(S)deluding influence so that they will believe ^[l]what is false, ¹² in order that they all may be ^[m]judged who ^(T)did not believe the truth, but ^[n](U)took pleasure in wickedness.

Stand Firm

^13 (V)But we should always give thanks to God for you, ^(W)brothers and sisters beloved by the Lord, because ^(X)God has chosen you ^[o]from the beginning ^(Y)for salvation ^[p](Z)through sanctification ^[q]by the Spirit and faith in the truth. ¹⁴ It was for this He ^(AA)called you through ^(AB)our gospel, ^[r]that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. ¹⁵ So then, brothers and sisters, ^(AC)stand firm and ^(AD)hold on to the traditions which you were taught, whether ^(AE)by word of mouth or ^(AF)by letter ^[s]from us.

^16 (AG)Now may our Lord Jesus Christ ^(AH)Himself and God our Father, who has ^(AI)loved us and given us eternal comfort and ^(AJ)good hope by grace, ^17 (AK)comfort and ^(AL)strengthen your hearts in every good work and word.