I John 2:18 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.
John was again directed to address the recipients of this letter as “little children.” God is not interested in insulting anyone. The reality is that those who are saved are little children in God’s sight. We never get to the place where we can step out on our own without God. We are never independent of God.
We need to be reminded that we are living in the last time. That was true in John’s day. We are almost 2,000 years from that time. We can certainly see that we are in the last time. As we look at our world, we see that the corruption is so entrenched that there is no turning back. Unless a person gets saved, they lack the discernment needed to see the real problem and how to solve it.
We could look at the Wuhan virus debacle that began approximately 4 years ago. The planning for that goes back further than that. The feds are still riding this hoax for their own gain. They are still trying to suppress truth about this issue. Yesterday I received notice that my court case for keeping our church open will be next January. I would ask those who are saved to please pray for me and for the judge that will preside over this case. I want to answer correctly and I want to be a good testimony in the court.
In the first century pastors and some of the apostles were arrested and jailed for preaching the Word of God. We have seen this at various times throughout church history. It is likely to get worse for us prior to the Lord’s return. The governments are intent on ruling with an iron fist. They want to shut down any truth. The many commissions that the federal parties in our country are holding is just a gong show. The opposition raises issues and the ruling party sidesteps everything. No one gets charged. Currently they are dealing with a 9 million dollar mansion in New York that our government bought with our tax dollars. This is supposed to work as the residence and meeting place for our “ambassador” to the U.S. Apparently this extravagant building is also supposed to need 2 million dollars in renovations. I have not followed all the details of this theft of tax payer dollars, but it is just one of many examples of a government that does not believe it is accountable to the public and can spend money for whatever it wants.
The real issue facing our country is the moral bankruptcy.
Psalm 127:1 Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.
Our country is certainly labouring in vain. As much as I disapprove of the current government, it is quite obvious that a change in government will not change the course this country is on. The hope of man must be in God. Unless we address that issue, there is no hope.
John reminded the readers of his day and us today that antichrists shall come. That is what we have running our country. There are also many antichrists leading religious organizations today. John stated that there were many antichrists in his time. Due to that reality, he stated that we know it is the last time.
Jesus Christ’s first coming ushered in the last time. The Old Testament sacrificial system was finished. Jesus Christ is the promised Messiah. He provided salvation for mankind. There is no other Messiah. Israel was cut off at the root and a new entity, local churches, were graffed into the root. The next major event that is coming is the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. Many things have happened over the past 2,000 years, but none of them is as consequential as the return of the Lord Jesus Christ in the air. At that time, all the New Testament saints will be removed from this earth. The church age will be finished. There will be a major hole left on this earth. The antichrist will be given permission by God to attempt to fill that hole. He is called the man of sin and he will convince the world to follow him. He will use lying signs and wonders to do that.
In verse 19 we are reminded that the antichrists John spoke of were once a part of true churches. They pretended to know and love the Lord. They left because they were frauds. They were able to fool people, but they could not fool God. They became weary of playing the game of religion. This can only be true in true churches. In the New Evangelical churches, standards don’t matter. It is a come as you will philosophy. The music is designed to attract the world. The “preaching” is more story-telling and jokes than truth.
There will be people who leave those religious social clubs because they find something more attractive to the flesh. A few will listen to the work of the Holy Spirit in their hearts and they will repent and be saved. They will leave and find a true local church.
Those spoken of in verse 19 were never saved. They were in attendance in person, but not in spirit. John stated that if they were genuine believers they would have remained. This is the fact we are facing today as well. There are people who attend a true church for a time. They leave, not because they lost their salvation, but because they were never a part of the true church. They were exposed to the truth, but they rejected it.
This is a sad situation and it happens all too often. Those people do not grasp the seriousness of their decision to leave. They will stand before the Lord one day. They will not have any advocate standing with them. They will stand before the Lord Jesus Christ as Judge. He will open the books and show them what their life truly was. Their names will not be found in the book of Life, and they will be cast into the lake of fire. This is very serious, and yet dismissed as irrelevant by too many.
I trust that each one reading these devotionals is listening to the Holy Spirit today. If you are not saved, you would be wise to humble yourself today and get saved. Examine yourself in the Light of God’s sure Word. If you are involved in a New Evangelical church, you are at a grave disadvantage. You have been deceived for as long as you have been in that social club. God wants you to know the truth. He is working in your heart, to show you your need. You need to listen to Him. If you have a true Bible, you can examine what you believe with the Bible. You can also call or write to us and we would be happy help you to know the truth. You can also visit our church and we will pray with you and show you the truth. God’s Word is Truth.
We take the Word of God seriously. We are not interested in deceiving anyone. We want all people to know the truth. That is what God wants and we want to follow Him faithfully. His way is the right way.
Pastor Bartel
