Well, good morning and welcome. This is our second service on Sunday mornings. We're in

Second Thessalonians and the second chapter of Second Thessalonians. So today's going to be

verses 4 through 12. I'll ask you to turn there.

If you're not there already and you can join with us online, I'll ask those that are here to stand.

If you're able, if not that's the right. You can follow along as I read.

The Apostle Paul is writing by the Holy Spirit to the church in Thessalonica.

He says, verse 4, he, speaking of the Antichrist, will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshipped, so that he sets

himself up in God's temple, proclaiming himself to be God. Don't you remember verse 5 that when I was with you, I used to tell you these things?

And now you know what is holding him back so that he may be revealed at the proper time. For verse 7, the secret power of lawlessness

is already at work. But the one who now holds it back or restrains will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. And then,

verse A, the lawless one will be revealed, whom, and I love this part, can't wait,

whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming.

That's the second coming, actually.

Verse 9, the coming of the lawless one

will be in accordance with how Satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power

through signs and wonders that serve the lie. Interesting. And all the ways

that wickedness deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved for this reason.

God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned

who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness. Wow, wow, wow. Let's pray, if you would join with me, please.

Loving Heavenly Father, we're so grateful to you for your word and especially this portion

here in your word that we have before us today clearly

this is not just your word but it's a word fitly spoken for such a time as this

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