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2 Thessalonians 2:9
ESV The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders,
NIV 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,
NASB that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and false signs and wonders,
CSB The coming of the lawless one is based on Satan's working, with every kind of miracle, both signs and wonders serving the lie,
NLT This man will come to do the work of Satan with counterfeit power and signs and miracles.
KJV Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,

What does 2 Thessalonians 2:9 mean?

Before the coming of the day of the Lord—a time of wrath and judgment—certain events must take place. Among these are a worldwide moral and spiritual rebellion, and the appearance of a "man of lawlessness."

Paul points to Satan as the evil person who brings the man of lawlessness into power. Satan enables him to perform "false signs and wonders." One of the miracles is mentioned in Revelation 13:13 as that of making fire drop from heaven in public view. Another miracle is that of giving the power of speech to the idol he erects (Revelations 13:15), in honor of the first beast—another end-times figure, appearing in Revelation 13:1–8.

These so-called miracles are counterfeit according to 2 Thessalonians 1:9, but they are intended to dupe people into thinking the man of lawlessness is the Messiah. Jesus, the true Messiah, authenticated His claim to be the Promised One by performing genuine miracles. False miracles are distinguished first by the person who performs them (Matthew 7:16, 20; 1 John 4:2–6), since any person who opposes God cannot be granted God's power. True miracles also support God's Word and His truth. As the apostle John noted: "These [miracles recorded in the Gospel of John] are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ [the Messiah], the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name" (John 20:31).
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