The other side of the antichrist and the Church

 The other Side of Church and antichrist. The non antichrists.

1 John 2:18-21

18. Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.

19. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.

20.But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.

21. I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth.

John insisted that these enemies that exist in the midst of the true church must be exposed for what they are and believers encouraged to understand the dangers they 

present and to defeat them with the spiritual equipment God has provided. 

He devotes this book to warnings of their intrusion

These conflicts are portrayed under four sections of Holy Ghost inspired wording: 

(1)  conflict between truth and falsehood (2:18-28)

(2)  conflict between the children of God and the children of the devil (2:29-3:12) 

(3)  conflict between love and hatred (3:13-24)

(4)  con-flict between the Spirit of God and the spirit of error (4:1-6).

 

They went out on their own accord. Or was it all of their own accord?

This shows the clear intent of God or a DEVINE purpose behind this departure

Drawn by God through the Holy Spirit not to stay attached to the church, but to depart

"they went out." 

The inferred phrase "in order that"  sets forth the purpose, not of the heretics, but of God, in their departure, 

"that it might be shown that they all are not of us."

The departure of the heretics revealed their true nature, making 

clear that "they were not really of us" 

Outwardly they had been members of the church, but inwardly they never shared the inner spiritual fellowship of the assembly. They were not of us.

There is a clear distinction of the two….

Their departure proved that they had a different spiritual origin, that they belonged to another spirit. 

It proved that they did not have the inner life of all the other true believers. The test of experience had made clear the distinction between true and counterfeit believers. 

Their defection had the effect of purifying the church and marking the clear distinction between truth and error.

They can not stand with the pure and the true. They are offended by that truth.

Some choose to close ongoing personal relationships between genuine members of the Christian body and themselves…..They get mad, or get upset and they think they leave the assembly of their own choosing…….but

God does the separation, election, and dividing. If you have listened to me anytime in the past, you see this God process over and over…..He is separating, electing, and dividing…

He works it…..you do not have to run these out…..they have their destruction within themselves. The desire of God is inside of them.

In spite of the claims of these heretics, 

John assured his readers that they truly had the spiritual equipment 

to resist these antichrists. 

Of primary importance is the fact that

"you have an anointing from the Holy One" 

You possess this power. the 'anointing' is conceived of as a Person. The God Holy Spirit…..

“You know all things.” this readers knew and were adhering to "the truth" they had received.

 "I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it" 

This truth of John, assured them that he was not seeking to impart new truth but to support them in their adherence to "the truth" already known in the face of the false teachers. 

With his  "I have written"  John placed himself at the time they would read what he had written. 

John assures them, you have studied, you are prepared with God’s teachings…….You can not be lead astray…...they will depart, but you will stay

They knew the signs of the antichrist and those that would leave

John reveals the signs

The mark of the liar (vv. 22-23a). Yes, the MARK, the identifying signs.

 The  question that seperates, 

"Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ?"

"Who is the liar"   the personal identification of such an individual when encountered and the identifying and unmistakeable sign.

"He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus" (Phil. 1:6).

 It is God in them,  that kept and seperated.

Daniel saw a people of the antichrist days

Daniel 11:32-33

32.  And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.

33.  And they that understand among the people shall instruct many: yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days.

Jesus talked of a church that the gates of hell would not stand against

Matthew 16​​: 17-18

17.  And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

18.  And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Hebrews 11: 13,39

13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.

They recognized “they were strangers & exiles on the earth.” Have you ever wondered why the world seems so “out of step” with the way you see things as a believer? HERE IT IS!

Why you are so different than many around you……

Why is your path and conscience so clear than those around you that are discontent and so unhappy with the declared and preached word?

There are literally thousands of denominations today. 

Each of them claim to offer “the truth”. Amidst all those denominations, how can we know what is the truth? Why is it with all these, you can not join up to them?

I decided that although men can be liars, men will teach you private interpretations, but God does not lie. So I decided to put my trust in His word, the Scriptures (Bible).

His true word separates the True body of believers from all the different belief and untruths of the denominational teachings.

So the antichrist leave out, and the true Church remains.