1 John Chapter 2 Pt. 6 Warning About Antichrist!

John was guided by the Spirit of God to include some strong and clear warnings about the antichrist. 

This truth is important for us to study and absorb. We will find that there is a connection with John's warnings and how modern Bibles are translated. 

In future posts, I will provide a few examples, as we dig deeper into this issue.

Generally speaking, the King James version was translated using a widely accepted Greek text. That Greek text can be carefully traced back to the early church.

Modern Bibles generally follow a different Greek text that was not published until 1881.

Why does this matter? Because all of the apostles warned about false teachers, false doctrine and heresy. 

Because God established certain litmus tests for scripture that are violated in certain ways by modern translations.

It is clear when comparing the two Greek texts, that the modern text is different, because it was altered by heretics, to make scripture conform to their distinctive views. 

I think this is a fair but brief assessment of this issue. Going forward, I will show you some specific examples of how a heresy influenced a modern translation. 

The spirit of antichrist is in the world today.

1 John 2:18-19  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. 

After more mature believers died, younger Christians faced an onslaught of false teaching.

The antichrist spirit manifests itself in false teachers, who diminish the scriptures or twist them into seducing lies.

The final and full arrival of the antichrist will happen after the resurrection of life and the rapture of the Church, when Jesus returns.

The word "antichrist" means a false Christ, against Christ or an adversary of Christ. 

Each successive generation of Christians sees some evidence of the last times, which precede Christ’s coming. 

God tells us about this, in order to keep His Church continually waiting and faithfully working for the Lord. 

John reminds us that we are living in the last days. We do not know how long God will extend this age of the church and gospel preaching. 

Therefore we must redeem the time wisely each day that presents opportunities to share the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

The world will continue to become more depraved over time.

2 Timothy 3:12-13  Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. 13)  But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. 

We know that evil men and seducing spirits will wax worse and worse. As depravity and rebellion against God erupts, we should not be surprised. God warned us. 

We know that Paul warned the Ephesian elders, that grievous wolves would enter into the church of Jesus Christ. They would seek to diminish gospel preaching and to destroy its spiritual vitality. 

Preaching the Word combats error and heresy. 

2 Timothy 4:1-4  I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; 2)  Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 3)  For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4)  And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. 

We know that each Pastor, Teacher and lay leader, must remain faithful until Jesus comes. We must continue preaching and teaching the Word during times it is well received, and during times when people are hostile to it. 

We know God is still saving people, calling them out of sin's darkness into His marvelous light (See 1 Peter 2:9).

We know that God is not willing that anyone should perish and go to Hell. He seeks for those who hear the gospel, believe it, repent of their sins and turn to Christ for salvation (See 2 Peter 3:9).

Thus, the last times, or the latter days are marked by many antichrists being in the world. 

How can a Christian know the difference between truth and error? Between heresy and sound doctrine?

John tells us that the antichrists he observed went out, or departed from the churches, where sound doctrine and strong Bible preaching was regularly given.

A heretic, a false teacher or the spirit of antichrist can be identified by this litmus test. They refused to accept and adhere to the apostolic teachings. They are against Christ. 

The unction of God's Spirit is given to help us discern truth from error.

1 John 2:20-21  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. 

The word "unction" is a word that connects back to the practice of anointing priests  and kings, to do their job with upright hearts before God. 

The anointing oil is one of the symbols of the Spirit of God. He anoints us with power to serve God and He does so as often as we need it (See Psalm 92:10; Ephesians 5:18).

Jesus Christ was anointed by the Spirit of God, to preach the gospel to those who were enslaved by sin and bound up by religious tradition instead of salvation from God's Word (See Isaiah 61:1). 

Established, sealed and anointed by the Spirit of God.

2 Corinthians 1:20-22  For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us. 21)  Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; 22)  Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.

The Father has given every spiritual blessing to all those who are "in Christ." His Spirit indwells each Christian the moment of their conversion to Christ (See Ephesians 1:12-14; Titus 3:4-6).

The Spirit of God places us into the body of Christ, to connect us with other believers and with Jesus our Lord (See John 14-16).

God anoints all believers with His Spirit. The Spirit seals us which is a way of identifying each Christian as belonging to God. 

He is our "earnest" or the present down payment of our future, full inheritance, as redeemed children of God. 

Thus, we are indeed anointed with the oil of gladness because of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. 

The unction of God's Spirit will help us remember truth.

John 14:25-26  These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. 26)  But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. 

John's gospel teaches us several vital truths about the ministry of God's Spirit. He will abide in us forever. 

He connects us to Jesus (John 14:16-18).  He will teach us truth from the scriptures. He brings God's truth back into our minds when we need that truth.

This is the unction or holy anointing oil John speaks of. The indwelling Holy Spirit will bring truth into our minds, enabling us to detect error and heresy. 

Thus, all heresy is steeped in lies. False teachers frequently twist truth from the Bible into a false teaching. 

The Spirit of God helps our minds to remember truth from the scriptures, so we can recognize false teaching, and shine the pure light of truth upon it.

The unction of God's Spirit will exalt and glorify Jesus Christ. 

John 16:13-15  Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. 14) He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. 15)  All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you. 

Here is a more detailed description of the "unction" of the indwelling Holy Spirit. He will guide us into all of God's Word. 

The Spirit of God is not here to exalt Himself. He is here to glorify Jesus Christ. He will make much of Jesus. 

He will take all the truths from the Old and New Testaments concerning Jesus Christ, and He will help us see them, learn them and be blessed by them.

Thus, John teaches us that this is how we recognize that someone has the spirit of antichrist in them, for they oppose the truth about the words, works and Person of Jesus Christ, God manifest in the flesh.

Thoughts to Ponder...

May we praise the Father of lights for sending His own Spirit to live in the hearts of each born again believer in Christ.

May we express our thanks because the Spirit of God will guide us as we study the Bible. He will highlight all the truths about Jesus Christ, so that we may rejoice. 

May we thank the Father because His Spirit will help us remember the truth we have read and studied, so that we can detect and avoid heresy.

Bob