We know that Satanas does not procreate. We know that the only way he can have children is to adopt them. Just as the Heavenly Father adopts us, people can choose to be adopted by Satanas. In that regard there are many antichrists in the world who are serving Satanas. Some serve intentionally, some simply made a choice to be antichrist, thereby serving a non-Christ. If we come across people who reject Jesus as Messiah then they are antichrist. It is relatively simple to understand but we blur the lines for some religions pretending that it’s alright if they are antichrists. We are soft on some religions being antichrists and even allow them to tell us about the Bible, which has its problems. From the first century perspective, there were antichrists going out into the world, some of whom followed the apostles and disciples for a while, but eventually turned away from Jesus Messiah. There were a lot of religious and societal pressures on families in those days, which is why the apostles went abroad to other nations. Many apostles and disciples were martyred for sharing the good news about the Christ. We tend to ascribe this title, antichrist, to one man at the end of the age, during the tribulation. On the surface it seems correct but we will explore this idea further.
John is the only person who writes using the word antichristos. He is the only one who called out the obvious. Today we are so afraid to use his verbiage because we truly do not understand it. We associate the word with cultic secret societies, robed in black, while chanting around a pentagram. While that can be true, it is the extreme, in that anyone who rejects Jesus as Messiah is an antichrist. It would be better to be honest. Let’s explore.
1 John 2:18 G3813 Children, G2078 [2 the last G5610 3hour G1510.2.3 1it is]; G2532 and G2531 as G191 you heard G3754 that G3588 the G500 antichrist G2064 comes, G2532 and G3568 now G500 [2antichrists G4183 1many] G1096 exist, G3606 whereupon G1097 we know G3754 that G2078 [2 the last G5610 3hour G1510.2.3 1it is].
500 LSJ Gloss:ἀντίχριστος Antichrist
Dodson:ἀντίχριστος antichrist antichrist, either one who puts himself in the place of, or the enemy (opponent) of the Messiah.
TBESG: ἀντίχριστος antichrist
G:N-M
άντι-χριατος, -ον, ό
Antichrist, "one who assuming the guise of Christ opposes Christ" (Westc., Epp. Jo., 70):
Refs
pl. 1Jn.2:18 (cf. ψευδόχριστος, and see MM, VGT, see word).†
(AS)
Thayer:
1) the adversary of the Messiah
ἀντίχριστος
antichristos an-tee'-khris-tos From G473 and G5547; an opponent of the Messiah KJV Usage: antichrist.
473 ἀντί
anti
an-tee'
A primary particle; opposite, that is, instead or because of (rarely in addition to) KJV Usage: for, in the room of. Often used in composition to denote contrast, requital, substitution, correspondence, etc.
5547 Χριστός
Christos
khris-tos'
From G5548; anointed, that is, the Messiah, an epithet of Jesus KJV Usage: Christ.
To understand John’s perspective we want to look at the timeframe he is referring to. The word last is eschatos, means “final, outermost, or last”. The word hour is hōra meaning “hour, period, or season". John is saying that it is the final season, as we can obviously understand that the exact hour he was writing this letter was not one hour prior to the Lords return. This final season is the last administration, dispensation, or age, before the harpazo. John is reminding people that they heard the antichrist is coming, and now, at that time, there are many antichrists that exist. This is how we know that it is the final season. Today we know many antichrists are generating, or coming into being, ginomai. There are many generations of antichrists, it is a continued process of people who are opposed to Christos, the Messiah.
1 John 2:19 G1537 From G1473 us G1831 they went forth, G235 but G3756 they were not G1510.7.6 G1537 of G1473 us; G1487 for if G1063 G1510.7.6 they were G1537 of G1473 us, G3306 they would have remained G302 G3326 with G1473 us; G235 but G2443 it was that G5319 they should be made manifest G3754 that G3756 [3not G1510.2.6 2are G3956 1all] G1537 of G1473 us.
The antichrists were among the believers at one point, except that they were not from out of the believers, otherwise they would have stayed among or amid the believers. They were made manifest, or made apparent, that they are not all from the believers. In other words, they are exposed as people who once hung around the believers but were really antichrists spying out the believers liberty. Some people turned away from being followers of the Messiah because of community pressure, others had evil intent. We have all seen people in our churches and Bible studies that seemed like they were Christians, but then looked for ways to draw people away from Christianity. Some do it publicly for clicks.
1 John 2:20 G2532 And G1473 you G5545 [2an anointing G2192 1have] G575 from G3588 the G39 holy one, G40 Holy One G2532 and G1492 you know G3956 all things .
John is not spoon feeding everyone so he makes a leap here by saying “you possess an anointing (charisma) from the Holy One, and you know all”. We possess an anointing from the Holy One and we should know all, we don’t need someone to put our food in a blender. Reach up and take hold of the knowledge, and eat it. If someone seems a bit “off” then keep an eye out for subversions. If someone has sly tendencies, confront them when they speak. Do not allow someone to pull people away from Jesus Messiah.
1 John 2:21 G3756 I wrote not G1125 G1473 to you G3754 because G3756 you do not G1492 know G3588 the G225 truth, G235 but G3754 because G1492 you do know G1473 it, G2532 and G3754 that G3956 every G5579 lie G1537 [3of G3588 4the G225 5truth G3756 2not G1510.2.3 1is].
John again expects that we already know this. Every lie is not from out of the truth. Consult with the Holy Spirit, consult with Jesus Messiah, but ultimately it is our responsibility to stop the pseudos, falsehood.
1 John 2:22 G5100 Who G1510.2.3 is G3588 the G5583 liar, G1508 if not G3588 the one G720 denying, saying G3754 that, G* Jesus G3756 is not G1510.2.3 G3588 the G5547 Christ? G3778 This G1510.2.3 is G3588 the G500 antichrist, G3588 the one G720 denying G3588 the G3962 father G2532 and G3588 the G5207 son.
John asks who is the pseustēs, the “falsifier, liar, cheater, deceiver”? People lie about all sorts of things, but if one arneomai “denies, contradicts, rejects, abnegates, or renounces", that Jesus is the Christos, Messiah, that is clearly a lie. Now we have a huge problem. Many people claim that Jesus is not the Messiah. They are liars. By John’s standard we should not be confused about that, yet we open our arms to people of various religions who reject Jesus Messiah. If someone denies Jesus Messiah, their entire life is built on lies. There is no truth in them. Therefore John expects that we would know to check with the Holy One, and recognize this is an antichrist, someone rejecting the Father and the Son. There are religions that say they believe in the heavenly Father, just not the son. John clears this up.
1 John 2:23 G3956 Every one G3588 G720 denying G3588 the G5207 son, G3761 neither G3588 [2the G3962 3father G2192 1has].
Here is their problem, if they deny the Son then they don’t have the Father. They may claim to have the Father, the Elohim, but they do not. They cannot reject the Son and have the Father, it is clearly in the title “Elohim”. Any Hebrew word ending with “im” is a plural, meaning “three or more”. In Hebrew there is a singular, a dual, and a plural. In Greek and English there is a singular and a plural, hence the trinity is embodied in the word Elohim. And yes the word “trinity” does exist in the Bible, in the northern Aramaic, which was the language the first century Israelites spoke. If the Jews deny Jesus is the Messiah, they have neither the Father, Son, or the Holy Spirit. What a pickle they are in. They have no atonement for sin. They die in sin without remission, which means they are destined for hades.
1 John 2:24 G1473 You G3767 then, G3739 what G191 you heard G575 from G746 the beginning, G1722 [2in G1473 3you G3306 1let it abide]! G1437 If G1722 [6in G1473 7you G3306 5should abide G3739 1what G575 3from G746 4 the beginning G191 2you heard], G2532 then G1473 you G1722 [2in G3588 3the G5207 4son G2532 5and G1722 6in G3588 7the G3962 8father G3306 1shall abide].
John tells us what we originally heard about Jesus and to let it live in us. The origin of what the early church was told about Jesus Messiah, dying and rising up on the third day, should dwell in us so that we will have the Son and the Father dwelling in us.
1 John 2:25 G2532 And G3778 this G1510.2.3 is G3588 the G1860 promise G3739 which G1473 he G1861 promised G1473 to us -- G3588 the G2222 life G3588 G166 eternal.
If we believe Jesus is the Messiah then we will have eternal life and that is the promise made to us.
1 John 2:26 G3778 These things G1125 I wrote G1473 to you G4012 concerning G3588 the ones G4105 misleading G1473 you.
The idea of misleading is to “roam from safety, truth, or virtue”. There are people intentionally seducing others away from Jesus Messiah. But now notice what John says. You don’t need these people to teach you.
1 John 2:27 G2532 And G1473 you -- G3588 the G5545 anointing G3739 which G2983 you received G575 from G1473 him G1722 [2in G1473 3you G3306 1abides], G2532 and G3756 [2no G5532 3need G2192 1you have] G2443 that G5100 any G1321 should teach G1473 you; G235 but, G5613 as G3588 the G1473 same G5545 anointing G1321 teaches G1473 you G4012 concerning G3956 all things, G2532 and G227 is true, G1510.2.3 G2532 and G3756 is not G1510.2.3 G5579 a lie, G2532 and G2531 as G1321 it taught G1473 you, G3306 you shall abide G1722 in G1473 him.
We lambanō, “take or obtain” the anointing from Him, it dwells in us. Therefore we have no chreia “requirement, use, advantage” for anyone to didaskō “teach, instruct, or expound”, to us. John is simply saying that we should learn from the Holy One, that dwells in us by our anointing. The anointing will teach us about all truth, and as we are taught by the anointing we will dwell in Him.
John wants us to obtain our teaching from our anointing. Should we listen to the Jesus rejecters or should we search out the anointing we have in Him? Obviously we know Jesus is Messiah and rose up on the third day, but we are now so far removed from the first century, through time, distance, and culture, we have to read the letters that the apostles wrote to understand why John is hammering this point home.
The people of the first century were confronted with antichrists who tried to, could have, and almost, extinguished the knowledge of Jesus Messiah. Mostly led by the religious leaders of Israel, but also varying governments attempting to stop unrest among the Jesus followers and the Jesus rejecters. What would the world be like if the knowledge of Jesus was erased and no one had ever heard of Jesus? No one could ever confess Jesus as Lord and Messiah and no one could receive remission from sin. Everyone on the earth would die in sins. Yet, two thousand years ago Jesus came to earth and was crucified by the religious leaders that he came to save. The apostles spread out and the knowledge of Jesus was not silenced. In John’s day, because the Septuagint, and the letters of the apostles, and Jesus’ letters to the church, were not available on ten devices in every home, and in every pocket, people had to discern the truth. Jesus’ letters tell us about people who say they are Jews but are not. He tells us about persecutions, and he warns us not to lose our first love. We read these today and know that they are true. But in the first century, the believers had to rely on the anointing to discern truth from lies. We would do better relying on the anointing so that we could discern truth from lies, and so that we are not misled by antichrists who are sent out to destroy the faith of Christians.
To recap, John tells us there is an antichrist, and that there are many antichrists. Today when we think about people who are antichrist we think that they are people who follow Satanas, or the pseudo religion of lucfier, but they are not the only antichrists. We have somehow forgotten the other religions that reject Jesus Messiah. The Jews, Muslims, the Buddhists, and all the rest. The people of these religions may not wear black capes, goat horns, and revel in human blood sacrifices. They instead are civil, neat, clean, and generally polite. They are still antichrists. While John is not suggesting we run screaming from these people, we should be able to notice the difference between these antichrists and Christians. The anointing should teach us and show us who is an antichrist. There may be an impression, or a feeling, or a sense, that something is not quite right. The Holy Spirit may give us a vision or a dream, or speak to us to warn us. Whatever way the anointing works within us, is what we should count on because the Father and the Son both dwell in us. We have to learn to trust the way the Holy One speaks to us.
John comes back to the idea of antichrist(s) in chapter four. John is the only one to write about antichrist(s) and there are only four usages of antichristos. John’s point, as we will see, is that those people who say Jesus Christ did not come in the flesh are antichrists. They can also be false prophets or pretenders, like their leader Satanas.
1 John 4:1 G27 Beloved, G3361 [2not G3956 3every G4151 4spirit G4100 1believe], G235 but G1381 distinguish G3588 the G4151 spirits, G1487 if G1537 [2of G3588 G2316 3God G1510.2.3 1 they are]! G3754 for G4183 many G5578 false prophets G1831 have gone forth G1519 into G3588 the G2889 world.
We are to dokimazō, “test, prove, examine”, the spirits as to whether they are from out of the Elohim. Pseudo prophets, pseudoprophētēs, go out into the cosmos. Why? Isn’t this the mission Dracōn was created for, to prick, sport, and goad the angels? Satanas is copying Dracōns calling and doing the same with humans, pricking, sporting, and goading. Why do pseudo prophets go out into the world? They are pricking, sporting, and goading, in an effort to cause us to fall. Satanas wants us to stop walking with Jesus Messiah. Satanas wants us to be controlled by him.
1 John 4:2 G1722 By G3778 this G1097 you know G3588 the G4151 spirit G3588 G2316 of God -- G3956 every G4151 spirit G3739 which G3670 acknowledges G* Jesus G5547 Christ G1722 [2in G4561 3flesh G2064 1having come G1537 5of G3588 G2316 6God G1510.2.3 4is].
This is certainly one important point, but not the only point. There are pseudo prophets that say many false things just to gain audience, and eventually we might find out that they do not believe Jesus is the Messiah or that Jesus Messiah came to earth in the flesh, from the Elohim.
1 John 4:3 G2532 And G3956 every G4151 spirit G3739 which G3361 does not G3670 acknowledge G3588 G* Jesus G5547 Christ G1722 [2in G4561 3flesh G2064 1having come G1537 5of G3588 G2316 6God G3756 4is not]. G1510.2.3 G2532 And G3778 this G1510.2.3 is G3588 the thing G3588 of the G500 antichrist, G3739 which G191 you heard G3754 that G2064 it comes, G2532 and G3568 [2now G1722 3in G3588 4the G2889 5world G1510.2.3 1is] G2235 already.
There are four aspects to this statement. One, is Jesus Christos, Messiah, yes or no? Two, was Jesus physically on the earth, yes or no? Three, was Jesus flesh, yes or no? Four, did Jesus come from the Elohim yes or no? A “no” answer to any of these aspects denies Jesus and the Father.
If Jesus is not the Messiah, who is? It was prophesied in so many ways in so many verses exactly when the Messiah would come, from his virgin birth to his crucifixion. If not Jesus then who? The person would have had to have lived at the same time period as Jesus, and he would have had to open blind eyes and deaf ears. Who else did this? No one. This is why the Masoretes eliminated 243 years from the Bible, in order to claim someone else to be the Messiah. The fact is that no one else ever fulfilled the old covenant prophecies. Isn’t it funny how the Magi that Daniel instructed found Jesus but the religious leaders never believed on him? Are we to believe that the Magi traveled from Chaldea to Judah by mistake? Are we to believe that all the alterations the Masoretes did were just for fun, instead of hiding the true Messiah from the world?
Was Jesus physically on the earth? We have four gospels written, two were eyewitnesses, that say he did walk physically on the earth. Some pseudo prophets believed he was just “spiritually” on the earth, not in a physical form but a ghost floating around doing good from time to time. This then begs the question as to who was murdered on the cross if it wasn’t Jesus of Nazareth, as Pilate stated by a plaque, with the statement “Jesus of Nazareth King of the Jews”, John 19:19. Who was that if it wasn’t Jesus? Certainly no one would go through all the trouble of pretending to murder a ghost. Also why did the graves open when Jesus died, and why did the veil in the temple tear from top to bottom?
Again was Jesus flesh or a spirit? No one whips a spirit. No one pulls out the beard of a spirit. No one smashes a crown of thorns on top of a spirits head. Jesus touched people, took them by the hand and healed people. Jesus slept, do spirits sleep? Jesus ate, do spirits eat? Jesus wept, do spirits weep?
Did Jesus come from the Father? When he was baptized by John the Baptizer, the crowd heard the Father speak from heaven “this is my beloved son in who I am well pleased”, Matthew 3:17, Mark 1:11, Luke 3:22. Who was the voice from heaven speaking about if it wasn’t Jesus? John the Baptizer declared that he saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove and abide on Jesus, Matthew 3:16, Mark 1:10, Luke 3:22, John 1:32. Who did the Spirit rest on if it wasn’t Jesus? John the Baptizer declared that Jesus is the Son of the Elohim. Was he wrong? If John was wrong why did Satanas, Dracōn, and many demons call Jesus the Son of God? Sometimes demons called Jesus the Son of the Most High God. Why did an angel tell Mary that her baby would be called the Son of the Elohim? Were Simeon and Anna mistaken when they prophesied over baby Jesus in the temple?
If Jesus was not the Messiah, had not come in the flesh, and had not come from the Elohim, would many many people become martyrs for a fairytale? The first three centuries alone, apostles and prophets died for proclaiming Jesus is Christos, Messiah. Yet how many more have died since for Jesus Messiah. No one would die for something they did not believe in. And while other religious people die as martyrs, the difference is they murder people as suicide bombers while claiming to be martyrs for their faith. They have to kill others to intimidate people into believing in what they believe. Jesus’ martyrs simply exist, and are hunted where they live and worship just for believing in Jesus. Today Jesus doesn’t send his people out to murder the unbelievers, that is a big difference, isn’t it? John tells us why this is important.
1 John 4:4 G1473 You G1537 [2of G3588 G2316 3God G1510.2.5 1are], G5040 sons, G2532 and G3528 have overcome G1473 them; G3754 for G3173 greater G1510.2.3 is G3588 the one G1722 in G1473 you, G2228 than G3588 the one G1722 in G3588 the G2889 world.
We are of the Elohim, and have nikaō “overcome, conquer, prevail, subdue, vanquish” the antichrists. We are sons and megas “big, great, large” is the one in us than the one in the kosmos. John is not just talking about the antichrists on earth during our lifetime, but also the antichrist, Satanas. Bigger, greater, larger is the Elohim in us than in any other being. This tells us that the believer in Christ cannot be on the earth when the son of perdition enters the temple and sits in the holy of holies. Because greater is he that is in us than the one in the world. Although people are martyred, they are not dead. There is no way that a Christian believer can be overtaken by anyone, because we do not die a permanent death. We move on to eternal life. However, today, on the earth, the Elohim is in us.
1 John 4:5 G1473 They G1537 [2of G3588 3the G2889 4world G1510.2.6 1are]; G1223 because of G3778 this G1537 [2of G3588 3the G2889 4world G2980 1they speak], G2532 and G3588 the G2889 world G1473 hears them. G191
Notice that John says the world hears them, we should be receiving inspiration from our anointing to hear what they say and know that it is not of the Elohim. Here is an example. There was a man, a pastor who wrote a book. It had a philosophical spin to it which drew a lot of people in. Then he wrote another book and made a ninety degree turn away from the logos, claiming that there is no “hell” and that a loving God would not send people to hell. The unfortunate thing is that many followed along, spouting this “new revelation”, but a quick look at the Bible will show anyone that Jesus talked more about hell than he did heaven. If it doesn’t exist then Jesus was wasting his time and everyone else’s time. With only a few years of ministry, one would think the Messiah would not find it prudent to waste time talking about fairy tales. The twist away from sound doctrine was a twist to men’s sophistry, making arguments that have no basis in biblical text. This is a shame because this man misled many people.
1 John 4:6 G1473 We G1537 [2of G3588 G2316 3God G1510.2.4 1are]; G3588 the one G1097 knowing G3588 G2316 God, G191 hears G1473 us; G3739 the one who G3756 is not G1510.2.3 G1537 of G3588 G2316 God, G3756 does not G191 hear G1473 us. G1537 By G3778 this G1097 we know G3588 the G4151 spirit G3588 of the G225 truth G2532 and G3588 the G4151 spirit G3588 of the G4106 delusion.
The Elohim hears us because we have confessed Jesus as Lord and believe he rose up from the dead. The people who do not confess Jesus as Lord cannot hear us. This is how we can know the difference between the spirit of truth and the spirit of planē, “fraudulence, wandering, error, or delusion”. To be clear, the way we know if someone is saved is if they can hear us. Otherwise they are plagued or oppressed by a spirit of fraudulence or a spirit that is not the Holy Spirit, but instead a spirit leading them astray. Can someone hear that Jesus is the Messiah? If we speak it and they reject it what do they have? A spirit of truth or a spirit of fraudulence? John goes on to remind us of the Elohim abiding in us.
1 John 4:15 G3739 Who G302 ever G3670 should acknowledge G3754 that G* Jesus G1510.2.3 is G3588 the G5207 son G3588 G2316 of God, G3588 G2316 God G1722 [2in G1473 3him G3306 1abides], G2532 and G1473 he G1722 in G3588 G2316 God.
The Elohim abides in us if we confess Jesus is the son of the Elohim. Now, when we confess, we are loved. The love of the Elohim is dwelling in us.
1 John 4:16 G2532 And G1473 we G1097 have known G2532 and G4100 have believed G3588 the G26 love G3739 which G2192 God has G3588 G2316 G1722 for G1473 us. G* G2316 God G26 is love; G1510.2.3 G2532 and G3588 the one G3306 abiding G1722 in G3588 the G26 love, G1722 [2in G3588 G2316 3God G3306 1abides], G2532 and G3588 G2316 God G1722 in G1473 him.
The Elohim is love. Abide in love and we abide in the Elohim, and the Elohim is in us.
1 John 4:17 G1722 In G3778 this G5048 [3has been perfected G3588 1the G26 2love] G3326 with G1473 us, G2443 that G3954 [2confidence G2192 1we should have] G1722 in G3588 the G2250 day G3588 of the G2920 judgment; G3754 for G2531 as G1565 that one G1510.2.3 is, G2532 also G1473 we G1510.2.4 are G1722 in G3588 G2889 this world. G3778
Love has been complete in the midst of us that we possess parrhēsia “freedom, boldness, frankness, confidence”, in the day of judgement. In the day of judgment how will we behave, afraid or bold? If love is complete in us we will be bold and free. Just as that one, Christ is. The word εκεινος translated “that one” is a demonstrative pronoun. The last phrase should read:
“because just as that one is and we are in the kosmos in this one”
We can have freedom in the day of judgment because just as that one is, just as Messiah is, we are in the cosmos in this Messiah with love complete in us. We are in the world with freedom, boldness, frankness, and confidence, because just as Jesus Messiah is, we are in the world with Messiah in us. Love has been completed in us while we are in the world. It is no surprise that the antichrists are hostile to us. Why wouldn’t they be? We have freedom in the day of judgment, they do not. Even if people do not realize it, the demons realize they have a day of judgment. Love is complete in us. This is a big point, because it is not just a feeling that comes and goes, it is a knowing that we should have because we can’t be any more complete in love. Complete is complete
1 John 4:18 G5401 Fear G3756 is not G1510.2.3 G1722 in G3588 the G26 love, G235 but G3588 the G5046 perfect G26 love G1854 [3outside G906 1casts G3588 G5401 2fear]; G3754 for G3588 G5401 fear G2851 [2punishment G2192 1holds], G3588 and the one G1161 G5399 fearing G3756 has not G5048 been made perfect G1722 in G26 love.
Fear, phobos, is not in love. Whenever we feel fear, terror, alarm, or fright, we are not remembering that we are complete in love. We then need to remind ourselves that complete love throws out terror. The one with fearing, phobeō, possesses punishment, correction, torment, and chastisement. This is not made complete in love. John wants us to understand that love throws out fear. People can become fearful in many things, in many ways, but we have to remember to walk in love. Complete love. Reminding ourselves of being complete in love with the Elohim dwelling in us, should eliminate fear. If it doesn’t then we have to work with our mind, cast down imaginations and everything exalting itself against the knowledge of the Elohim, and lead every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.
John writes a letter to a certain lady named Cyria. In his letter he reminds her of antichrists.
2 John 5 G2532 And G3568 now G2065 I ask G1473 you, G2959 lady, G3756 not G5613 as G1785 [4commandment G1125 1writing G1473 2to you G2537 3a new], G235 but G3739 which G2192 we had G575 from G746 the beginning, G2443 that G25 we should love G240 one another.
6 G2532 And G3778 this G1510.2.3 is G3588 the G26 love, G2443 that G4043 we should walk G2596 according to G3588 the G1785 commandments G1473 of his. G3778 This G1510.2.3 is G3588 the G1785 commandment G2531 as G191 you heard G575 from G746 the beginning, G2443 that G1722 in G1473 it G4043 you should walk.
This is good news for us because John just explained this whole subject in his last letter.
2 John 7 G3754 For G4183 many G4108 deluded ones G1525 entered G1519 into G3588 the G2889 world, G3588 the ones G3361 not G3670 acknowledging G* Jesus G5547 Christ G2064 coming G1722 in G4561 flesh. G3778 This G1510.2.3 is G3588 the G4108 deluded one, G2532 and G3588 the G500 antichrist.
Why are there many planos, “deceivers, misleaders, imposters”, entering into the kosmos who do not confess Jesus Christos, Messiah, coming in the flesh? There seemed to be a faction of people who decided on their own volition that Jesus was only on earth as a ghost or spirit. Gnostics and gnosticism was a growing mishmash of spiritualism that did not believe Jesus came to earth in the flesh. While they didn’t outright deny Jesus as a divine being, they believed all matter is corrupt and evil so Jesus wouldn’t have come in the flesh which was corrupt and evil. Of course John would know if Jesus was a ghost or flesh, since he was there. John is giving Cyria a warning that these people who deny Jesus are misleading antichrists. Now John adds more to this warning.
2 John 8 G991 Take heed G1438 of yourselves! G2443 that G3361 we should not lose G622 G3739 what things G2038 we worked, G235 but G3408 [3wage G4134 2a full G618 1should accept].
“Look see yourself in order that not destroy what labor but receive back full wages/rewards.”
John wants Cyria to understand that if we become misled we many lose our wages/rewards in the future in heaven. He suggests that by being misled by deceivers we would lose rewards for the things we worked for. This is a great warning. We all need to be aware of this. We do not lose our salvation if we follow along with a gnostic doctrine, but we do lose the rewards we had stored up. This is the difference between the kingdom of the Elohim and the kingdom of heaven. Why? Because we have to finish our lives in the faith of Jesus Messiah. The foundation knowledge that Jesus came to earth in the flesh, died on a cross, and rose up on the third day.
2 John 9 G3956 Anyone G3588 G3845 violating G2532 and G3361 not G3306 abiding G1722 in G3588 the G1322 teaching G3588 of the G5547 Christ G2316 [3God G3756 1does not G2192 2have]. G3588 The one G3306 abiding G1722 in G3588 the G1322 teaching G3588 of the G5547 Christ, G3778 this one G2532 [2even G3588 3the G3962 4father G2532 5and G3588 6the G5207 7son G2192 1has].
And here is our answer. Anyone parabainō, “going contrary transgressing, turning aside, departing or deserting”, and not dwelling in the teaching of Christos, Messiah, does not have the Elohim. Ouch. How many people turn away from Jesus Messiah? Sometimes rather publicly. No one should turn away from the teaching of Jesus Christos, Messiah, but if they do they still have salvation, but they do not have rewards. Some might think that is not a big deal, others will heed the warning.
Paul wrote a second letter to the Thessalonian church in which he explains that there will be a guy who is going to call himself “god”. We usually hear this person called the antichrist. He is not the antichrist, he may be an antichrist, but he is living in a different administration. The only people left on the earth are people who are antichrist. Everyone living during the tribulation will be antichrists, unless they confess Jesus Messiah as Lord, and believe he rose up on the third day.
1 Thessalonians 2:3 G3361 Let not G5100 any G1473 completely deceive you G1818 G2596 in G3367 not one G5158 manner! G3754 for it will not be G1437 unless G3361 G2064 [3should come G3588 1the G646 2defection] G4412 first, G2532 and G601 [4should be uncovered G3588 1the G444 2man G3588 G266 3of sin], G3588 the G5207 son G3588 G684 of destruction,
4 G3588 the one G480 being an adversary G2532 and G5229 elevating himself G1909 above G3956 all G3004 being called G2316 god G2228 or G4574 object of worship; G5620 so as for G1473 him G1519 [2in G3588 3the G3485 4temple G3588
Paul points out the Day of the Lord and the gathering of the above assembly. People were being misled by others who said the Day of the Lord had already come. That was not true and Paul has to address these false teachings, just a John did. The first event will be the harpazo, the gathering of the above assembly, then there will be an apostasia, a defection on the earth. Why? Because all the Christians are gone and the earth is left with antichrists. Then a manfaced of sin, the son of destruction, apōleia, meaning “ruin, loss, eternal ruin, and waste”. He is an adversary, antikeimai, who will elevate himself, sit in the holy of holies, and claim he is god. A few years after this takes place the Day of the Lord will come.
Paul called this man the “son of perdition”, but mistakenly we call him “the antichrist”. Paul used this phrase because there are no Christians on the earth to compare an opposite to. No one will think he is the Messiah, Christos, they will understand him as an elevated ruler claiming to be god, not the Messiah. Everyone left on earth at this time is already an antichrist, as no one believed Jesus was the Messiah so they were not harpazo’d. However, after this event, people will recognize they had been misled and will then confess Jesus as Lord and Messiah. Once they do that the evil son of perdition will martyr them.
This is why it is more important to proclaim Jesus Christos, Messiah, to the world than to pretend it is ok for people not to confess Jesus as Lord and Messiah. People will die in their sin, without atonement and without redemption. Some will live during the tribulation and die a martyr or take the beasts’ mark and go to hades. Neither of those outcomes are great for any human.
As John told us, there are many antichrists going out into the world, there always will be antichrists. From the first century perspective they were dealing with hostile antichrists. Today about 5.5 billion people out of 8 billion people are antichrists. It’s not like 5 billion people haven’t heard of the Christian religion, thereby hearing about Jesus Messiah. Some may need a bit more information regarding salvation or a little push. But what are the better options? Let people die, go to hades, and stay there for at least one thousand years until the great white throne judgment? Our antichrist friends are not going to be happy with the choices they made. We have the answers for them if they want them.
