⁶ So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, are you restoring the kingdom to Israel at this time?”

⁷ He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority.^(A)

⁷ For the mystery of lawlessness^(A) is already at work, but the one now restraining will do so until he is out of the way, ⁸ and then the lawless one will be revealed. The Lord Jesus will destroy him with the breath of his mouth^(B) and will bring him to nothing at the appearance of his coming. ⁹ The coming of the lawless one is based on Satan’s working, with every kind of miracle, both signs and wonders serving the lie,^{(C) 10} and with every wicked deception among those who are perishing. They perish because they did not accept the love of the truth and so be saved.^{(D) 11} For this reason God sends them a strong delusion so that they will believe the lie, ¹² so that all will be condemned^(E)—those who did not believe^(F) the truth but delighted in unrighteousness.