They Went Out

OK, we don't get too much further along in 1 John today.

1 John 2:18-19.
“Children, it is the last hour. As you have heard, 'Antichrist is coming,' even now many antichrists have come. We know from this that it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they did not belong to us; for if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us. However, they went out so that it might be clear that none of them belonged to us.”

This is such a sad Scripture. I think any of us who have been in church for a long period of time have experienced some example of this. It's that person, who realizes how much they need the Lord, is baptized and befriended by many. They often are completely on fire for the Lord. Then, they miss a few services and everyone calls to encourage them. They come back in full force only to fall away again and again. After a time you never see them and they have asked the church to stop calling. I think this is but one example of what John was talking about. Another example are those who feed on the misery and discention of a church body. They go from church to church looking for people to side with and tear apart.

Whatever the case, we need to treat these people, not as brothers and sisters in Christ when we see them again, but as the lost. This actually affords them an extra measure of grace from us, because they do not know, or understand, what they are doing. (Luke 23:34)

As for THE Antichrist, I heard an interesting theory from Beth Moore in her study on Daniel. We understand that God is all-knowing, but we forget that Satan is not. Jesus Himself said, “Now concerning that day and hour no one knows – neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son – except the Father only.” (Matthew 24:36) So, Satan has had to groom an antichrist in every generation to be ready. Throughout the last 2000 years, people have pointed to certain figures and claimed them as the Antichrist, and I believe most of them would have been right, if that had been the season the Father had chosen. Interesting, isn't it? Don't you think Satan is getting tired of all his hard work? (I have to say, I get some satisfaction from that thought.)

This post was originally suppose to show up on Saturday, and the one that finally came up yesterday was scheduled for Friday. I have NO idea what happened. Sorry for the few days of silence, but it has been a little rough. As you get some free time, reflect on what we have looked at in the first two chapters of 1 John, and I'll start in on chapter 3 later.

Let me leave you, though, with the last few verses in 1 John 2...

1John 2:27-29.
“The anointing you received from Him remains in you, and you don't need anyone to teach you. Instead, His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie; just as it has taught you, remain in Him. So now, little children, remain in Him, so that when He appears we may have boldness and not be ashamed before Him at His coming. If you know that He is righteous, you know this as well: everyone who does what is right had been born of Him.”