The Lord
told me to read from II John tonight. One of the verses that caught my eye was
II John 1:7.
Many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus
Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is
the deceiver and the antichrist.
II John 1:7
I was curious about the word ‘antichrist so I went to the
Strong’s Concordance and looked it up in the Greek.
#500 - antichristos: antichrist, (one who opposes
Christ)
So it means one that opposes Christ and according to the
above mentioned verse it also means it’s someone who does not acknowledge Jesus
Christ lived in a fleshly body.
I decided to see how many times the word ‘antichrist’ was
used in the King James Bible and there were 3 more.
Dear friends, do not believe every spirit,
but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false
prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit
of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh
is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God.
This is the spirit of the antichrist,
which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.
I John 4:1-3
Dear children, this is the last hour;
and as you have heard that the antichrist
is coming, even now many antichrists
have come. This is how we know it is
the last hour. They went out from us, but they did not really belong to
us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their
going showed that none of them belonged to us.
But you have an anointing from the Holy One,
and all of you know the truth. I do not write to you because you do not know
the truth, but because you do know it and because no lie comes from the truth. Who
is the liar? It is the man who denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a man is
the antichrist—he denies the Father
and the Son. No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the
Son has the Father also.
I John 2:18-23
I find it
very interesting that in these verses it says ‘even now many antichrists have
come’. That they knew they were antichrists because they left them and this
showed they did not belong….because of this they were called antichrists’.
This is
something I need to study because I always thought there was one ‘antichrist’
and he or she would come right before or during the Rapture.
But
according to these passages there are ‘many’ and have already come. They also
say that’s how they know it’s the last hour. So it’s been the ‘last hour’ for
over 2,000 years. (II Peter 3:8 But do
not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand
years, and a thousand years are like a day.)
Then there’s
Matthew 24 ….. it’s interesting to see
what some of the Greek words mean in this passage.
In this
conversation it is hard to see what has already happened and what is yet to
come but here’s one that has already happened.
1 Jesus left
the temple and was walking away when his disciples came up to him to call his
attention to its buildings. 2 “Do you see all these things?” he asked. “I
tell you the truth, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will
be thrown down.”
This
conversation took place in 30AD and the temple was destroyed in 70AD, that’s 40
years after this conversation. I wonder why so many ignore this has already
happened?
Then we
continue in the conversation –
3As Jesus
was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. “Tell
us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming
and of the end of the age?”
4Jesus
answered: “Watch out that no one
deceives you.
The first
thing he says, after being questioned about the ‘end of the age’ is “watch out
that no one deceives you.’ Now why would that be His first response? Maybe because
He knew we could get too focused on something that will keep us from doing His
will?
(Deceives is
misled in the Greek - 4105 planáō – properly, go astray, get off-course; to
deviate from the correct path (circuit, course), roaming into error, wandering;
(passive) be misled.)
5 For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I
am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. 6 You will hear of wars and rumors of
wars, but see to it that you are not
alarmed.
He goes on
to tell them ‘see to it that you are not alarmed’.
(Alarmed is
troubled and in the Greek - 2360 throéō (from throos, "clamor,
tumult") – properly, unsettled (thrown into confusion, WS, 953);
(figuratively) troubled (disturbed), wanting to "cry aloud, to scream
(passive) because terrified" (WP, 1, 189); thrown into an "emotional
uproar," i.e. very upset (alarmed, startled).)
So to me, it
looks like we go astray as we listen to ….wars, rumors of wars. It can cause us
to get into an emotional uproar, to be alarmed and this will get our focus off
of ‘going into the world and making Disciples’ We begin to focus on, the end is
here, it’s coming soon and that’s all we talk about – which is good for
Christians to do with each other but not at the cost of leaving behind what God
wants us to do. People that are not saved do not understand nor care about the
coming of Christ.
Anyway He
goes on to say:
Such things
must happen, but the end is still to come.(still future happening)
7 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom
against kingdom. (In the Greek Nation against
nation - #1484 - éthnos (from ethō,
"forming a custom, culture") – properly, people joined by practicing
similar customs or common culture; nation(s), usually referring to unbelieving
Gentiles (non-Jews).
And Kingdom
against kingdom - #932 - (basileía)
especially refers to the rule of Christ in believers' hearts – which is a rule
that "one day will be universal on the physical earth in the
Millennium" (G. Archer).
[The kingdom
(932 /basileía) is constantly used in connection with the rule of Christ in the
hearts of believers – which also extends in various stages.]
I found it
very interesting that ‘kingdom’ is used in connection with the rule of Christ
in the hearts of believers…..
Could this
be the different denominations that fight against each other? How will God find
faith when He returns if we still believe in a name – Baptist, Christian, Word
of Faith, Methodist, Pentecostal, Catholic, etc. are the only ‘true’ religion,
have it all right?
There will
be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of
birth pains.
(birth pains
- 5604 (ōdín) suggests intense suffering (similar to birth pain) – hence,
"to suffer greatly, great pain" (L & N, 1, 24.87) like "a
birth-pang, travail-pain; figuratively, extreme suffering" (A-S).]
(He was talking
to Disciples and they were persecuted and killed. So there were famines and
earthquakes, the beginning of birth pains THEN they, the Disciples were handed
over …)
9 “Then you will be handed over to be
persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of
me.
(persecuted
– tribulation - 2347 thlípsis – properly, pressure (what constricts or rubs
together), used of a narrow place that "hems someone in"; tribulation,
especially internal pressure that causes someone to feel confined (restricted,
"without options").
2347
/thlípsis ("compression, tribulation") carries the challenge of
coping with the internal pressure of a tribulation, especially when feeling there
is "no way of escape" ("hemmed in").
10 At that
time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other,
11 and
many false prophets will appear and deceive many people.
A false
prophet – (5578 pseudoprophḗtēs (from 5571 /pseudḗs, "false" and 4396
/prophḗtēs, "a prophet") – properly, a false prophet; someone
pretending to speak the word of the Lord (prophesy) but in fact is phony (an
imposter), acting as a wolf in sheep's clothing.
5578
/pseudoprophḗtēs ("a false prophet") specializes in "the art of
misimpression," like about how they were "commissioned" by the
Lord to touch the world with their message. But when in fact, they operate by
self and for self so they must be exposed for what they are – and are not!
This is
clearly why we need discernment, to know God’s Word and His voice so we don’t
listen to a stranger, a false prophet.
12 Because of the increase of wickedness,
the love of most will grow cold, 13 but he who stands firm to the end will be
saved. – So those of us that believe must be the ones who stand firm with a warm love to the
end! This is ongoing until Christ
returns.
wickedness
is lawlessness – (458 anomía (from 1 /A "not" and 3551 /nómos,
"law") – properly, without law;
lawlessness;
the utter disregard for God's law (His written and living Word).
Love – (26
agápē – properly, love which centers in moral preference)
and
Cold – (5594
psýxō (originally, "to breathe out," cf. J. Thayer) – properly,
"to blow, refresh with cool air" (Zod, Dict); (figuratively) "to
breathe cool by blowing, to grow cold, 'spiritual energy blighted or chilled by
a malign or poisonous wind')
Stands firm
(endured - Cognate: 5278 hypoménō – literally, remaining under (the load),
bearing up (enduring); for the believer, this uniquely happens by God's power)
And
Saved – (4982
sṓzō (from sōs, "safe, rescued") – properly, deliver out of danger
and into safety; used principally of God rescuing believers from the penalty
and power of sin – and into His provisions (safety).)
14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be
preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end
will come.
Preached –
(proclaimed - 2784 kērýssō – properly, to herald (proclaim); to preach
(announce) a message publicly and with conviction (persuasion).
2784
/kērýssō ("to herald") refers to preaching the Gospel as the
authoritative (binding) word of God, bringing eternal accountability to all who
hear it.)
Good news –
(the good news of the coming of the Messiah, the gospel; the gen. after it
expresses sometimes the giver (God), sometimes the subject (the Messiah, etc.),
sometimes the human transmitter (an apostle) - Cognate: 2098 euaggélion – the
Gospel – literally, "God's good news." See 2097 (euangelizō). The
Gospel (2098 /euaggélion) includes the entire Bible, i.e. it is not limited to
how a person becomes a Christian.)
And End – (5056
télos (a neuter noun) – properly, consummation (the end-goal, purpose), such as
closure with all its results.)
Now we’re
back to things that have happened -
15 “So when
you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination that causes desolation,’
(it was a Roman General that sat on the
throne in the temple before he destroyed the temple then he became an emperor)—
Siege of Jerusalem 70AD----- spoken
of through the prophet Daniel—let the reader understand—(His advice to them) 16 then
let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17 Let no one on the roof (1430
dṓma (from demō, "to build a house") – the roof-area of a flat-roof
house. Flat housetops were ideal on hot summer nights for sleeping and passing
on information "from one housetop to another.") of
his house go down to take anything out of the house. 18 Let no one in the field
go back to get his cloak. 19 How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant
women and nursing mothers! 20 Pray that your flight will not take place in
winter or on the Sabbath.
Now is his
command to flee for then or future? --where does he stop with what already
happened and where does he go back into future events? The thing to remember is
He tells us to not be alarmed, don’t believe liars because everyone will know
when He comes back –
21 For then
there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until
now—and never to be equaled again. 22 If those days had not been cut short, no
one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened.
23 At that
time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or, ‘There he is!’ do
not believe it. 24 For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform
great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect—if that were possible. 25 See,
I have told you ahead of time.
26 “So if
anyone tells you, ‘There he is, out in the desert,’ do not go out; or, ‘Here he
is, in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. 27 For as lightning that comes from
the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 28 Wherever
there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather.
29 “Immediately
after the distress of those days
“‘the sun
will be darkened,
and the moon
will not give its light;
the stars
will fall from the sky,
and the heavenly
bodies will be shaken.’
30 “At that
time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of
the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the
sky, with power and great glory. 31 And he will send his angels with a loud
trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end
of the heavens to the other.
32 “Now learn
this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves
come out, you know that summer is near. 33 Even so, when you see all these
things, you know that it is near, right at the door. 34 I tell you the truth,
this generation (what generation? The one He is talking to now – the Disciples?)
will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 35 Heaven and
earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
It sound
like ‘when you see all these things is referring to ‘the sun will be darkened,
moon not give it’s light, stars fall from the sky and the heavenly bodies will
be shaken.’
The Day and
Hour Unknown
36 “No one knows about that day or hour, not
even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 37 As it was in
the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For in the
days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in
marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; 39 and they knew nothing about
what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the
Son of Man.
40 Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other
left. 41 Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the
other left. 42 “Therefore keep watch (1127 grēgoreúō – literally, "stay
awake"; (figuratively) be vigilant (responsible, watchful)., because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. 43 But understand
this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was
coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken
into. 44 So you also must be ready (2092 hétoimos (from heteos,
"fitting") – ready because prepared; "standing by," ready
to meet the opportunity (challenge) at hand; ready because the necessary
preparations are done (or are sure to happen as needed).) , because the Son of Man will come at an hour
when you do not expect him.
45 “Who then
is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the
servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? 46 It will
be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. 47 I
tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. 48 But
suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, ‘My master is staying away
a long time,’ 49 and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and
drink with drunkards. 50 The master of that servant will come on a day when he
does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. 51 He will cut him to
pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping
and gnashing of teeth.
Matthew 24
So in verse 45.... with the ‘faithful and wise servant’.
for me,
the bottom line is…….
I know God
will return one day and for us Christians that is nothing to fear. It is for us
to prepare, for as a body of believers. Non-believers do not need to hear this,
they need to hear about the forgiveness, grace, mercy and love of Christ. He
came for the sick not the healthy.
So, I
believe, we are to be doing the works Christ came to do and told us to do while
we wait for His return.
We are to be
a light - "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot
be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and
put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in
the house. Let your light so shine
before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in
heaven." Matthew 5:14-16
We need to
truly become branches on the Vine – followers of Christ not of Baptist,
Methodist, etc. We are one body and we need to be living in unity –
encouraging, correcting, forgiving, and equipping each other to do the works
God sends us to do.
We need to
be in His word daily, in prayer and listening to Him so we know what He wants
us to do, how He wants us to pray and give Him the glory.
I desire to
be so full of the love of God that it overflows and is so bright people can’t
miss it. I desire to give my testimony, my missing the mark and yet getting
back up in the power and might of Jesus Christ to make the changes needed and
to move forward again. I desire to give hope to people, the hope that can only
come from God.
Christ’s
return – sure, some day……but my desire and focus is to be doing my Father’s work so
He will find faith on this earth.
The Bible is
amazing and I’m beginning to understand why one must be in the Word daily!
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