2 Thessalonians 2

http://www.esvbible.org/2+Thessalonians+2/

This letter is definitely a little darker than most of Paul's others because he wants to clear up the misconceptions about the second coming. Many of the Thessalonians feared that it had already occurred and they missed it, so Paul describes how it all will really happen so that they will not think this. First, it is important to note that the things described here still have not happened, so the second coming is still in the future. There will be a man, commonly referred to as the anti-Christ, who will come to Earth and reject every kind of god, not just the One, True God. He will place himself above all of them and take on the worship that had been directed at all of the gods. The time of Christ's return cannot happen until this man, who Paul calls the son of lies, has been revealed. At this time, Christ will reappear, and His very presence will destroy the anti-Christ. The son of lies will come with all of the power of Satan. He will even be capable of performing miracles and supernatural works, but all of his works will be rooted in lies. He will only be able to deceive those who are dying because they do not believe. Because the son of lies will do everything that God disapproves of, his followers will follow suit. Then, when Christ returns to judge humanity, those who followed the lies and did what God disapproves of will be condemned.

Paul does more praying at the end of this story. He tells the Thessalonians that they shouldn't worry about the anti-Christ because God called them before the beginning to follow Him through their great faith. The same is true of all believers. If we truly believe, we should not worry about this son of lies because He will not deceive us. We have planted our faith firmly in the Son of God.