Testing The Spirits
1 John 3:24-4:3 – See the note below.
24 And the one who keeps His commandments abides [3306- “to stay (in a given place, state, relation or expectancy), to remain, not to depart, not to leave, to continue to be present”] in Him, and He in him. And we know by this that He abides [3306] in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.
1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test [1381] the spirits to see whether they are from God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
2 By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses [3670] that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God;
3 and every spirit that does not confess [3670] Jesus is not from God; and this is the spirit of the antichrist [500- “against Christ; one who stands in opposition to all that Jesus Christ represents.”], of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world.
(NAS)
NT:1381 dokimazo (dok-im-ad'-zo)
(Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance)
from NT:1384; to test (literally or figuratively); by implication, to approve:
KJV - allow, discern, examine, like, (ap-) prove, try.
(Thayer’s Greek Lexicon)
to try
1. to test, examine, prove, scrutinize (1 Peter 1:7)
2. to recognize as genuine after examination, to approve, deem worthy (1 Cor. 16:3)
NT:3670 homologeo (hom-ol-og-eh'-o)
(Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance)
from a compound of the base of NT:3674 and NT:3056; to assent, i.e. covenant, acknowledge:
KJV - con- (pro-) fess, confession is made, give thanks, promise.
(Thayer’s Greek Lexicon)
1. properly, to say the same thing as another, i. e. to agree with, assent,
2. universally, to concede
a. not to refuse, i. e. to promise:
b. not to deny, i. e. to confess; declare (John 1:20)
3. to profess (Titus 1:16)
4. to praise, celebrate (Hebrews 13:15)
In this passage, John warns us to not believe every spirit/person that claims to be from God. Instead we are to test the spirit of the person to see if they are from God or not from God which is the spirit of antichrist. How can you tell a false prophet from a true one? By watching their life to see if Jesus has truly come to abide in them (“in the flesh”, their flesh). Does their walk proclaim that Jesus is their Lord, and that they have not received His grace in vain [“empty, fruitless, without effect”]? (2 Cor. 6:1) Those who walk in the Spirit will have discernment to sense and then see the true condition of their heart. You will have a sense that something is not right. We must listen to these promptings within. He will always confirm it if we’re not yet sure. At times, though, it will be very obvious.
Jesus said,
“Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So then, you will know them by their fruits.” (Matthew 7:15-20/NASU)
Also, per verse 24, it is by keeping the commandments of the Lord that we continue/remain in Him, not departing from Him. This is why it is so dangerous to remain in a state of rebellion against the Lord, to continue sinning against Him. The Greek for “antichrist” is antichristos (an-tee'-khris-tos) which means “an opponent of Messiah, the adversary of the Messiah.” Vine's Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words states that it can mean either “against Christ” or “instead of Christ,” or perhaps, combining the two, “one who, assuming the guise of Christ, opposes Christ.” (See the section The Unfaithful Children Of God; From Savior To Enemy in the Bible study Cultivate Faithfulness.)
2 John 7-11 – See the note below.
7 For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not acknowledge [3670- see def. above] Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is the deceiver [4108- “wandering, or leading astray, seducing, an impostor”] and the antichrist [500- “against Christ; one who stands in opposition to all that Jesus Christ represents.”].
8 Watch yourselves, that you do not lose what we have accomplished, but that you may receive a full reward.
9 Anyone who goes too far [4254] and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; the one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son.
10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house, and do not give him a greeting;
11 for the one who gives him a greeting participates in his evil deeds.
NASU
NT:4254 proago (pro-ag'-o)
(Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance)
from NT:4253 and NT:71; to lead forward (magisterially); intransitively, to precede (in place or time [participle previous]):
KJV - bring (forth, out), go before.
(Thayer’s Greek Lexicon)
1. transitive, to lead forward, lead forth (Acts 16:30)
2. intransitive
a. to go before (Luke 18:39)
b. to proceed, go forward; in a bad sense, to go further than is right or proper
As already mentioned above, the Greek for “antichrist” is antichristos (an-tee'-khris-tos) which means “an opponent of Messiah, the adversary of the Messiah.” Vine's Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words states the following;
“…it can mean either “against Christ” or “instead of Christ,” or perhaps, combining the two, “one who, assuming the guise of Christ, opposes Christ.”
Therefore, to “not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh” is to not confess Him as being your Lord through obedient submission to His will. What you say with your mouth does not align with your deeds/works. Through rebellion to His will (disobedience/unfaithfulness) after receiving Him (Hebrews 10:26), He has not been allowed to change your fleshly nature. His grace shown toward you is not being reflected in your life (i.e. “is in vain”, 2 Cor. 6:1). Because of your opposition against Him, He has not been allowed to come into your flesh[ly nature] and conform you to His image. To oppose the Lord by saying “no” to the ministry of the Holy Spirit within is to deny Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior (2 Timothy 2:12), after turning to Him. This is the clear warning from Jude 5 that many have perverted to their own destruction (2 Peter 3:16). If Jesus is not allowed to be Lord (i.e. Lordship), He cannot save us (Jude 5).
Peter warns Christians to be obedient and conduct ourselves in fear during our time on earth so as not to be re-conformed to the former lusts we were enslaved to before turning to Christ;
“As obedient children, do not be conformed [see Romans 12:1-3] to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, "YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY." If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one's work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth; knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.”
(1 Peter 1:14-19/NASU)
When we fight the work of the Holy Spirit within us, not working together with Him (2 Cor. 6:1), we are fighting against God thereby becoming an enemy of His (see the section The Unfaithful Children Of God; From Savior To Enemy in the Bible study Cultivate Faithfulness). This is a doctrine that produces the fear of the Lord and His judgments so as to keep us from sinning so that we may remain near Him, and in Him (John 15:1-6).
Again, how does the spirit of a person confess that Jesus Christ has come into their flesh? By the witness of a changed life. You are getting victory over sin through submission to the indwelling power of God which is in you. The fruit of the Spirit is being manifested within you. You are allowing the Holy Spirit to put to death the deeds of the flesh and are therefore being conformed to the image of Christ. Simply asking someone, as I’ve heard some do and even ask me, “Did Jesus Christ, as God, come into a fleshly body?” is not the question to be asking because even Satan, and many other cults, believe this!
You confess the spirit of antichrist through the lack of a manifestation of Christ-likeness. There are no fruits of His Holy Spirit being manifested in you. You are denying, or saying no, to His power within you (2 Timothy 3:5) to overcome the sinful nature and to replace it with His nature. The Father must see His Son in us. We must, after receiving Christ, put Him on through obedience (Ephesians 4:20-24). I am not talking about someone who occasionally stumbles in sin, but the person who continues to practice sin with no repentance (see 1 John 3:4-10). The fear of the Lord, through the truth, is to keep us from continuing in sin (Exodus 20:20, Psalm 78:22, 1 Cor. 15:33-34, Hebrews 10:26-31, Romans 6:1, 2 Peter 2:10-15).
Going Too Far
One other point that needs to be brought out in this passage is in the verse, “Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; the one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son.” (v.9) The NIV interprets this verse, “Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue [KJV/NKJV; “Whoever transgresses…”] in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.” The Greek for “goes too far” is proago (pro-ag'-o). It’s defined as “to lead forward, lead forth, to precede, to go before, in a bad sense, to go further than is right or proper.” It refers to our going ahead of God when He should always be in front of us, leading us in the way we should go (Deut. 1:33, Psalm 32:8, Isa. 48:17). It reveals who is leading, Him or us.
John says, in fact, that if we continue in this manner of self-guidance, apart from the Holy Spirit’s, we will “not have God” which by definition means “to have (hold) in the hand [similar to breaking a marriage vow], in the sense of wearing a garment, to hold fast, to keep, to own, possess.” In other words, we will not keep our possession of Him having become a covenant breaker. We will have, through our own choice, let go of Him (Jer. 17:4). For more verses on the Lord’s leading and guidance in a Christian’s life (His going before us) with the Greek word proago (pro-ag'-o) [4254], see Matthew 2:9, 26:32, and 28:7. Also see John 16:13 and 14:1-3 which refers to His going before us to prepare a place. He is the only One who knows (and is) the way to the Father.
After responding to a question from the Pharisees with a rebuke, Jesus’ disciples came to Him and said that He had offended them. He replied,
“Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be pulled up by the roots. Leave them; they are blind guides. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit.”
(Matthew 15:13-14/NIV)
There are many blind guides in the church today who have gone too far, not abiding in the teachings of Christ, and are blindly leading people into the “broad way that leads to destruction” (Matthew 7:13-14).
While telling us that many people with the spirit of antichrist have already appeared, John declared;
“They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, so that it would be shown that they all are not of us.”
(1 John 2:19/NASU)
He then gave a warning in verses 20-24 to the Christian who knows the truth to be careful to not deny (“to disown”) Jesus as their Lord by the spirit of antichrist and be “carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position.” (2 Peter 3:16-18/NIV) These are two different groups among the church that John is describing; one who did not know the truth and those who do know the truth. Judgment will be worse for those who know the truth and then turn away, believing in the false teachings of those who do not know Christ, versus those who do not know (see Luke 12:47-48 and 2 Peter 2:20-22).
2 Thessalonians 2:1-4 – Paul describes those with the spirit of antichrist. They will oppose God and will exalt themselves, proclaiming themselves to be God. They do not confess that Jesus has come into their flesh and do not keep the commandments of God. They do not continue abiding in Him (1 John 3:6), walking in the same manner as He walked (1 John 2:3-6). Instead, they are led by their own desires and will (Philippians 3:19), walking in the flesh rather than the Spirit.
1 Now we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him,
2 that you not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come.
3 Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy [646] comes first, and the man of lawlessness [“illegality; the condition of one without law, knowingly or not”] is revealed, the son of destruction [684],
4 who opposes [480] and exalts himself [5229] above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God.
NASU
NT:646 apostasia (ap-os-tas-ee'-ah)
(Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance)
feminine of the same as NT:647 [“something separative, divorce”]; defection from truth (properly, the state); revolt ["apostasy"]:
KJV - falling away, forsake.
(Thayer’s Greek Lexicon)
a falling away, defection, apostasy (Acts 21:21)
NT:684 apoleia (ap-o'-li-a)
(Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance)
from a presumed derivative of NT:622; ruin or loss (physical, spiritual or eternal):
KJV - damnable (-nation), destruction, die, perdition, perish, pernicious ways, waste.
(Thayer’s Greek Lexicon)
1. actively, a destroying, utter destruction: as, of vessels (Romans 9:22)
2. passively, a perishing, ruin, destruction
a. in general: let thy money perish with thee (Acts 8:20)
b. in particular, the destruction which consists in the loss of eternal life, eternal misery, perdition, the lot of those excluded from the kingdom of God (Rev. 17:8,11)
NT:480 antikeimai (an-tik'-i-mahee)
(Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance)
from NT:473 and NT:2749; to lie opposite, i.e. be adverse (figuratively, repugnant) to:
KJV - adversary, be contrary, oppose.
(Thayer’s Greek Lexicon)
1. to be set over against, lie opposite to,
2. to oppose, be adverse to, withstand: tini (Luke 13:17)
NT:5229 huperairomai (hoop-er-ah'-ee-rom-ahee)
(Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance)
middle voice from NT:5228 and NT:142; to raise oneself over, i.e. (figuratively) to become haughty:
KJV - exaltself, be exalted above measure.
1 Kings 1:5-6 – See the note below. This passage is from the section Nonconfrontational Parenting in the Bible study Biblical Principles For Marriage.
5 Now Adonijah [“my Lord is Jehovah (Yah)”, lord (i.e. worshipper) of Jah”] the son of Haggith [“festive”] exalted himself [5375], saying, "I will be king." So he prepared for himself chariots and horsemen with fifty men to run before him.
6 His father had never crossed [6087] him at any time by asking, "Why have you done so?" And he was also a very handsome man, and he was born after Absalom.
NASU
OT:5375 nasa' (naw-saw'); or nacah (Ps 4:6 [OT:7]) (naw-saw')
(Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance)
a primitive root; to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absol. and rel. (as follows):
KJV - accept, advance, arise, (able to, [armor], suffer to) bear (-er, up), bring (forth), burn, carry (away), cast, contain, desire, ease, exact, exalt (self), extol, fetch, forgive, furnish, further, give, go on, help, high, hold up, honorable (+man), lade, lay, lift (self) up, lofty, marry, magnify, needs, obtain, pardon, raise (up), receive, regard, respect, set (up), spare, stir up, swear, take (away, up), utterly, wear, yield.
(Brown Driver Briggs Hebrew Lexicon)
to lift, to bear up, to carry, to take
a) (Qal)
1) to lift, to lift up
2) to bear, to carry, to support, to sustain, to endure
3) to take, to take away, to carry off, to forgive
b) (Niphal)
1) to be lifted up, to be exalted
2) to lift oneself up, to rise up
3) to be borne, to be carried
4) to be taken away, to be carried off, to be swept away
c) (Piel)
1) to lift up, to exalt, to support, to aid, to assist
2) to desire, to long (figurative)
3) to carry, to bear continuously
4) to take, to take away
d) (Hithpael) to lift oneself up, to exalt oneself
e) (Hiphil)
1) to cause one to bear (iniquity)
2) to cause to bring, to have brought
OT:6087 `atsab (aw-tsab')
(Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance)
a primitive root; properly, to carve, i.e. fabricate or fashion; hence (in a bad sense) to worry, pain or anger:
KJV - displease, grieve, hurt, make, be sorry, vex, worship, wrest.
(Brown Driver Briggs Hebrew Lexicon)
1) to hurt, to pain, to grieve, to displease, to vex, to wrest
a) (Qal) to hurt, to pain
b) (Niphal) to be in pain, to be pained, to be grieved
c) (Piel) to vex, to torture
d) (Hiphil) to cause pain
e) (Hithpael) to feel grieved, to be vexed
2) to shape, to fashion, to make, to form, to stretch into shape, Theological Wordbook of
the Old Testament: worship
a) (Piel) to shape, to form
b) (Hiphil) to form, to copy, to fashion
Through David’s lack of disciplinary confrontation with his son, Adonijah became a self-absorbed, egotistical brat who thought the world should revolve around, and serve him. The fruit of a non-confrontive parent is self-exaltation in their children. Like this “worshipper of Jehovah,” they end up desiring to be the king, the one sitting on the throne of their heart (2 Thessalonians 2:1-4 above), not submitting to the lordship of Jesus Christ over them. They are the ones in the church who have become controlled with the spirit of antichrist. As such they will not be “snatched away” with the obedient children of God before His wrath is poured out on earth in the final 3-1/2 years before the end of the age at His return (for a much greater depth of clarity on this subject see the Bible study Elul; The Season Of Preparation And 40 Days Of Favor).
Not understanding through correction and restraint what it means to serve one another, they desire to be served, exalting self above others. Their self-induced issue becomes an annoyance for everyone else they come into contact with throughout society. They have no respect for authority because they are their own authority, desiring to rule over everyone else. If parents do not bring a little pain into their children’s lives early on, they will bring great pain to themselves, their parents, and others when they get older.
Philippians 1:20-21 – Paul refers to his desire for Christ to be exalted in His body rather than himself.
20 I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed [153], but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted [3170] in my body, whether by life or by death.
21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.
NIV
NT:153 aischunomai (ahee-skhoo'-nom-ahee)
(Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance)
from aischos (disfigurement, i.e. disgrace); to feel shame (for oneself):
KJV - be ashamed.
(Thayer’s Greek Lexicon)
1. to disfigure
2. to dishonor
3. to suffuse with shame, make ashamed
NT:3170 megaluno (meg-al-oo'-no)
(Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance)
from NT:3173; to make (or declare) great, i.e. increase or (figuratively) extol:
KJV - enlarge, magnify, shew great.
(Thayer’s Greek Lexicon)
1. to make great, magnify (Matthew 23:5)
2. to deem or declare great, i. e., to esteem highly, to extol, to laud, to celebrate (Luke 1:16)
2 Corinthians 13:5 - Paul speaks of “the test” to determine whether or not we are in the faith which he says means Christ is in us (see the Bible study The Test). To be in the faith is to keep the faith (2 Timothy 4:7-8). To keep the faith is to keep His deeds, or works, to do His will and walk in the same manner as Jesus walked (1 John 2:3-6). And to keep His works is to remain in Him. Otherwise, you can become disqualified (1 Cor. 9:27) which is to be unapproved, not standing the test. EXAMINE YOURSELVES!! Whose life is being revealed, ours or the life of Christ?
5 Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you-- unless indeed you fail the test?
(NAS)
Acts 16:16-18 – See the note below.
16 It happened that as we were going to the place of prayer, a slave-girl having a spirit of divination [4436] met [5221] us, who was bringing her masters much profit by fortune-telling.
17 Following after Paul and us, she kept crying out, saying, "These men are bond-servants of the Most High God, who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation."
18 She continued doing this for many days. But Paul was greatly annoyed [1278], and turned and said to the spirit, "I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her!" And it came out at that very moment.
NASU
NT:4436 Puthon (poo'-thone)
(Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance)
from Putho (the name of the region where Delphi, the seat of the famous oracle, was located); a Python, i.e. (by analogy, with the supposed diviner there) inspiration (soothsaying):
KJV - divination.
(Thayer’s Greek Lexicon)
Python
1. in Greek mythology the name of the Pythian serpent or dragon
2. a spirit of divination (Acts 16:16)
NT:5221 hupantao (hoop-an-tah'-o)
(Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance)
from NT:5259 and a derivative of NT:473 [see def. below]; to go opposite (meet) under (quietly), i.e. to encounter, fall in with:
KJV - (go to) meet.
(Thayer’s Greek Lexicon)
to go to meet, to meet: tini (Matthew 8:28)
hupantao [NT:5221] – “to go to meet, to meet,” has the same meaning as No. 1, and is used in Matthew 8:28; Luke 8:27; John 11:20,30, and, in the most authentic mss., in Matthew 28:9; Mark 5:2; Luke 14:31 (of meeting in battle); John 4:51; 12:18 and Acts 16:16.
(from Vine's Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words, Copyright © 1985, Thomas Nelson Publishers.)
NT:473 anti (an-tee')
(Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance)
a primary particle; opposite, i.e. instead or because of (rarely in addition to):
KJV - for, in the room of. Often used in composition to denote contrast, requital, substitution, correspondence, etc.
(Thayer’s Greek Lexicon)
a preposition followed by the genitive
1. properly, it seems to have signified over against, opposite to, before,
2. indicating exchange, succession, for, instead of, in place of (something)
a. universally, instead of Luke 11:11
b. used of that for which anything is given, received, endured (Matthew 5:38)
c. of recompense (Romans 12:17)
d. of the cause wherefore (Luke 12:3)
e. of succession to the place of another (Matthew 2:22)
3. As a prefix
a. opposite, over against
b. the mutual efficiency of two
c. requital
d. hostile opposition
e. official substitution instead of
NT:1278 diaponeo (dee-ap-on-eh'-o)
(Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance)
from NT:1223 and a derivative of NT:4192; to toil through, i.e. (passively) be worried:
KJV - be grieved.
(Thayer’s Greek Lexicon)
to work out laboriously, make complete by labor
a. to exert oneself, strive
b. to manage with pains, accomplish with great labor
c. to be troubled, displeased, offended, pained (Acts 4:2; 16:18)
As Paul and Silas were heading toward the place of prayer, a slave girl possessed by a “spirit of divination” met them. The Greek for divination is puthon (poo'-thone). Per Vine's Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words;
“…puthon (poo'-thone), (Eng., “python”), in Greek mythology was the name of the Pythian serpent or dragon, dwelling in Pytho, at the foot of mount Parnassus, guarding the oracle of Delphi, and slain by Apollo. Thence the name was transferred to Apollo himself. Later the word was applied to diviners or soothsayers, regarded as inspired by Apollo. Since demons are the agents inspiring idolatry (1 Cor. 10:20), the young woman in Acts 16:16 was possessed by a demon instigating the cult of Apollo, and thus had ‘a spirit of divination.’”
It’s interesting to see that, as she followed them, she seemed to be declaring that which was good, but something about her annoyed/troubled Paul. Her constant proclamation had become a distraction from Christ instead of an attraction to Him. There are many within the church who possess the same spirit. They’re proclaiming that Jesus is the way of salvation, but inside you sense a different spirit coming through that doesn’t sit right within your spirit. Jesus isn’t being exalted or glorified through them. I’ve learned to listen to this prompting. If I’m not sure, I’ll wait for the Lord to confirm it one way or another which He always does.
The Greek for “met” is hupantao (hoop-an-tah'-o). It’s made up of two words, one being anti (an-tee') which is defined as “over against, opposite to, instead of, in place of.” It is also used as a prefix that forms the word antichrist. What you see through this is that, even though she was proclaiming that Jesus was the way, this girl was possessed with a spirit that stood opposed to Him. It is a deceptive form of Christianity that is in actuality controlled by the spirit of antichrist.
This same word is used with similar implication in Luke 8:26-39 where Jesus cast out many demons from a man. He and His disciples had sailed to the country of the Gerasenes where they were “met [hupantao] by a man from the city who was possessed with demons; and who had not put on any clothing for a long time, and was not living in a house, but in the tombs.” The spirit of antichrist that fights against the Lord, is opposite to His will and has become so prevalent in the leadership of the body of Christ has kept many from putting on the Lord Jesus Christ. Most of God’s people are unaware that they are naked, uncovered and unprotected from God’s wrath at the end of this age (Rev. 3:17). They have been living in the tombs, in places of death, including dead places of worship for so long that the place of bondage has become their familiar place of comfort.
When those filled with the presence of the Lord show up they too will be met by those possessed with demons who oppose/fight against the Lord’s will. They have a form of godliness but have denied its power (which is to receive the grace of God in vain) to conform them into the image of Christ, thereby becoming a son and daughter of God and gain the right of possession of their eternal inheritance (see Jer. 32:7-8, Ezekiel 46:16-18). We are commanded by God to;
“Avoid such men as these. For among them are those who enter into households and captivate weak women weighed down with sins, led on by various impulses, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses [see Exodus 7:11, 22], so these men also oppose the truth, men of depraved mind, rejected in regard to the faith.”
(2 Timothy 3:5-8/NASU)
Jannes and Jambres are not mentioned by name in the Old Testament but, traditionally speaking, are thought to be the magicians referred to in Exodus 7:11 who opposed Moses. The possible meaning of their names is “he who seduces” and “he who makes rebellious.” Either way, they represent those who “oppose the truth, men of depraved mind, rejected in regard to the faith.”
False Prophets:
Matthew 24:3-5, 11, 24- The signs of the end of the age. There are two ways of seeing verse five in this passage. One is that Jesus is talking about Himself, that false prophets would say He is the Christ and then mislead many through false teachings not of Christ. The other is that they would themselves claim to be Christ. I think the first one is the right one, causing many to put their guard down and blindly follow a deceived leader. As we saw earlier, if unguarded, a Christian can be swept away in the error of the deceived and fall away from Christ (2 Peter 3:17).
3 And as He was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?"
4 And Jesus answered and said to them, "See to it that no one misleads you.
5 "For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will mislead many.
11 "And many false prophets will arise, and will mislead many.
24 "For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect.
(NAS)
Matthew 7:15-20- The fruit of false prophets is a heart that is unchanged. There is no inner cleansing by the Holy Spirit being manifested.
15 "Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous [727] wolves. [Jesus Christ has not come into their flesh, they are still unchanged! See 2 Cor. 5:17.]
16 "You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes, nor figs from thistles, are they?
17 "Even so, every good tree bears good fruit; but the bad tree bears bad fruit.
18 "A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit.
19 "Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
20 "So then, you will know them by their fruits.
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727 harpax (har'-pax)
(Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance)
from 726 [see def. right below]; rapacious:
KJV-- extortion, ravening.
(Thayer’s Greek Lexicon)
1) rapacious, ravenous
2) an extortioner, a robber
726 harpazo (har-pad'-zo);
(Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance)
from a derivative of 138; to sieze (in various applications):
KJV-- catch (away, up), pluck, pull, take (by force).
(Thayer’s Greek Lexicon)
1) to seize, to carry off by force
2) to seize on, to claim for oneself eagerly
3) to snatch out or to snatch away
Matthew 11:12- Are violent men the ravenous wolves of Matthew 7:15? Based on the definitions of the Greek words for “violent” and “take it by force,” I see it as this; “The kingdom of heaven suffers violent opposition. Those who press in, striving to obtain its privileges (Luke 13:24) with the utmost eagerness and effort, will be the ones who seize it and will be snatched away/caught up (1 Thessalonians 4:17) in the first gathering of God’s children (i.e. the Bride represented by the Feast of Trumpets).” (See the Bible study Elul; The Season Of Preparation and 40 Days Of Favor.)
12 "And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence [971- “to press violently, to force one’s way into”; see more below], and violent [973- “strong, forceful, using force, violent”] men take it by force [726- see def. below].”
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NT:971 biazo (bee-ad'-zo) – In the passive voice, is rendered “suffereth violence” in Matthew 11:12. Some, e. g., Cremer (Lexicon) and Dalman (Words of Jesus, pp. 139,ff.), hold that the reference is to the antagonism of the enemies of the kingdom, but Luke 16:16 (middle voice: RV, “entereth violently”) indicates the meaning as referring to those who make an effort to enter the kingdom in spite of violent opposition.
(Vine's Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words, Copyright © 1985, Thomas Nelson Publishers.)
(Thayer’s Greek Lexicon)
the kingdom of heaven is taken by violence, carried by storm, i. e. a share in the heavenly kingdom is sought for with the most ardent zeal and the intensest exertion; to get a share in the kingdom of God by the utmost earnestness and effort (Luke 16:16)
NT:726 harpazo (har-pad'-zo)
(Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance)
from a derivative of NT:138; to seize (in various applications):
KJV - catch (away, up), pluck, pull, take (by force).
(Thayer’s Greek Lexicon)
to seize, carry off by force: ti (Matthew 12:29); to seize on, claim for oneself eagerly (Matthew 11:12); to snatch out or away (Matthew 13:19); ti ek cheiros tinos, (John 10:28) f; tina ek puros, proverbial, to rescue from the danger of destruction (Jude 23) to seize and carry off speedily (John 6:15); (Acts 23:10); used of divine power transferring a person marvelously and swiftly from one place to another, to snatch or catch away (Acts 8:39); passive (Revelation 12:5)
2 Peter 2:1-3 – Denying the Master. False prophets say no to the Lordship of Christ in their lives. They want to be God! See 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12.
1 But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves.
2 And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned;
3 and in their greed they will exploit you with false words; their judgment from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.
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The spirit of antichrist denies the Lordship of Jesus Christ within you.
1 John 2:15-25 – The spirit of antichrist denies, or rejects, Christ's rule.
15 Do not love the world, nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.
17 And the world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God abides forever.
18 Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have arisen; from this we know that it is the last hour.
19 They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, in order that it might be shown that they all are not of us.
20 But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you all know.
21 I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it, and because no lie is of the truth.
22 Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son.
23 Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father; the one who confesses the Son has the Father also.
24 As for you, let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father.
25 And this is the promise which He Himself made to us: eternal life.
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Denying Jesus Christ:
Matthew 10:32-33
32 "Everyone therefore who shall confess [declare openly] Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven.
33 "But whoever shall deny [to refuse, to contradict] Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven.
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2 Timothy 2:11-13
11 It is a trustworthy statement: for if we died with Him, we shall also live with Him;
12 If we endure, we shall also reign with Him; if we deny Him, He also will deny us;
13 If we are faithless, He remains faithful; for He cannot deny himself.
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Jude 4-5
4 For certain persons have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness [“unbridled lust (Eph. 4:22-23, 1 Peter 1:14), excess, shamelessness”] and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.
5 Now I desire to remind you, though you know all things once for all, that the Lord, after saving a people out of the land of Egypt, subsequently destroyed those who did not believe.
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Jude 4
4 For certain men whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are godless men, who change the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.
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Isaiah 59:12-13- Israel's denial.
12 For our transgressions are multiplied before Thee, and our sins testify against us; for our transgressions are with us, and we know our iniquities:
13 Transgressing and denying the LORD, and turning away from our God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving in and uttering from the heart lying words.
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You deny that Jesus is the Christ (the Messiah, the Lord of your heart, Deliverer of your sinful nature) when you say no, or reject His power within you to overcome the flesh, or sinful nature.
According to Thayer's, one definition of the flesh is
“The flesh, denotes mere human nature, the earthly nature of man apart from divine influence, and therefore prone to sin and opposed to God.”
Matthew 1:21
21 "And she will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for it is He who will save His people from their sins."
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John 1:11-13 – The power of God is given to make us children of God. See the Bible study Freedom In Christ.
11 He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him.
12 But as many as received [“to take or accept”] Him, to them He gave the right [“power of choice, capacity, the power of rule or government”] to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name,
13 who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
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A man and woman become one flesh when they procreate. Their close intimate relationship (koinonia) is what brings about the formation of the “new creation.” They become one flesh in the new life that is produced. As we unite with Jesus Christ, that which is conceived within us is from the Holy Spirit. He gives birth within us to the “new man” who is from above, or “born again.”
2 Peter 1:3-4 - The power of God is given to us so that we can become “partakers of the divine nature”! This can occur, though, “through the true knowledge of Him.”
3 seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.
4 For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, in order that by them you might become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.
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2 Timothy 3:1-5 – A form of godliness that denies God's power. The spirit of antichrist!
1 But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come.
2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy,
3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good,
4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God;
5 holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; and avoid such men as these.
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Philippians 3:17-21- The power of God to conform our bodies like His. This resurrection power comes as we follow Him to the place of power, His cross. We must join Him in the likeness of His death in order to also be in the likeness of His resurrection (see Romans 6:5).
17 Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us.
18 For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ,
19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things.
20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ;
21 who will transform [3345- “to change in fashion or appearance, to transfigure, to transform”] the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.
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