The American Wisdom Series

Presents

2 John

Caution to students of God's Word - Please remember two things when using our American Wisdom Series studies:
#1. Our commentary is not God's Word. It is only our interpretation or understanding of "His Word" and even though we try our best to be accurate we may or may not be correct. #2. The King James translation, or any other translation, of the original Hebrew text has some words which were given different translations at different places probably because of the interpreters preconceived ideas of what they think God meant to say. For example: According to the notes in the "Dake's Annotated Reference Bible" the Hebrew word hayah in the KJV is Trans. (became) 67 times, (becamest or came to pass) 505 times, (become) 66 times, and (come to pass) 131 times, but for some reason in Genesis 1:2 it is translated (was)! That sure changes the way a person perceives the original creation of the earth, doesn't it?  Gen. 1:2 And the earth was (became) without form, ... Having said that, let us continue with our "studies". These studies contain knowledge, we believe, you must have to fully and accurately unlock and understand the Word of God. 
May the Holy Spirit be your only guiding light. Sincerely, John Rhine

Revelation 2:17  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.

John 15:26
But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:

John 16:13-14
[13] 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.

Now 2 John 

The apostle John is often referred to as the Apostle of Love. He is that beloved disciple of Jesus Christ who in addition to his three epistles also wrote the Gospel of John and the great Book of Revelation concerning the events of these last days and beyond. In that Book of Revelation, in chapters two and three, John records what Jesus has to say to the 7 Churches which, by the way, are all alive and well today, for they are all present at the return of Messiah. However, of those 7 Churches only two are found to be without fault. They are the church of Smyrna and the church of Philadelphia. The reason those two churches are in good standing with Christ is because they know and "keep His Word", the truth, and they teach that truth, especially the truth concerning the kenites, the sons of Cain, the antichrists John told us about in his first epistle.

The reason we bring this to your attention is that most scholars seem to be somewhat ambivalent as to whom John wrote this second epistle. One of the greatest Christian scholars of all time, Dr. E.W. Bullinger writes the following in his introductory commentary to 2nd John in the Companion Bible on page 1878:

"The Second Epistle is addressed 'unto the elect lady and her children', and some have understood a certain church and it's members. Alford, however, gives good grounds for believing that an individual is meant."
You will discover from the context of this epistle that it is quite clear that to whomever it is written they have the Truth dwelling in them and they have Love for one another which they have known from the beginning. There is really only one group of people in these last days who have both of those characteristics, God's elect of the churches of Smyrna and Philadelphia, a name that even means "brotherly love".
2 John 1:1
The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth;
Our elder brother John, apostle of love and truth, has written this short letter of instructions to the "elect lady", the chosen woman, and her children. Those children are the "little children" John spoke of in his first epistle who have known the love of God even from the beginning, an identity phrase we will discuss later in this study. Those children are the lady's, mother Israel's, "sons and daughters" of these last days, of this final generation of the fig tree, who are right now bringing forth the truth of God's plan and His love, in love, to this froward generation. They are spoken of by the prophet Joel who was quoted by Peter on that first Pentecost Day in Acts 2:17 who we quote today:
Acts 2:17
And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
These young men and women understand (see) the visions and the dreams that the prophets saw and recorded for us concerning these last days. Not only that, these children even see those visions coming to pass before their very eyes exactly as they are written, exactly as their present elder teachers have envisioned those dreams coming true. How fortunate we are to be alive at this time, for without a doubt this is the most exciting time to live in the history of mankind. This is the generation that is right now witnessing the fulfillment of all those prophecies and signs given to occur just before the return of Jesus Christ. Do you know what they are? You should, because Jesus Christ, the Word of God, has foretold us all things. Mark 13:23 "But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things." And if you have absorbed His Word then that truth dwells in you, and will so forever.
2 John 1:2
For the truth's sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever.
How does that truth come to dwell in us? The answer is "Through abiding in Him, which means to abide in His Word. That is what sanctifies (sets apart) God's elect. If you do not have the Word of God abiding in you, meaning you are Biblically illiterate because you do not study His Word, then you do not have Truth abiding in you, because you see, His Word is Truth!
John 17:17
Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
It is that truth dwelling in us that gives us the ability to discern the difference between the spirit of truth and the spirit of error perpetuated by the traditions of men. You know the saying, "You are what you eat." Well, that applies to spiritual food as well, which is what your daily bread is. When you study and absorb truth, the Word of God, it nourishes you and becomes part of you and your spirit becomes one with His.
2 John 1:3
Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.
Truth and Love are the two characteristics that set apart God's elect and in particular the church of "brotherly love" in these end times. Did you know that John emphasizes "truth" more than any other apostle. In fact he refers to "truth" 10 times in his first epistle, 5 times in this second epistle and 6 times in his third epistle, which is more than it is referred to in all of Matthew, Mark, and Luke combined. John, the disciple whom Jesus loved, knows that without truth you cannot fully know the true love of God.
[4] I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father.
The commandment from the Father is to walk in His truth. Of course you have to know it first, right?
[5]And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another.
To "beseech" is "to entreat" or "desire of".  John is not telling us something we do not already know. Whenever God's elect hear the phrase "from the beginning" their ears perk up, for it has special meaning and significance to them because they know the Word of truth. They know of their calling from the beginning, even from before the foundation of the world as Paul wrote in Ephes. 1:4 "According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love:"
2 John 1:6
And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.
It is written in Revelation chapter three that those who are of the church of Philadelphia do keep His commandments, i.e. they keep His Word. Here it is: (the subject from vs. 7 is the church of Philadelphia)
Rev. 3:10
Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
Because they know the truth they will not be tempted by the tempter, Satan the antichrist, when he is cast to this earth (Rev. 12:7-9). You see, to know the truth, to know God's Word, is to have the "seal of God" in your forehead, i.e. in your mind. Those who do not have the seal of God in their foreheads will be deceived and seduced by antichrist, the false messiah, and his locust army, those angels who are cast out with him in Rev. 12:7-9. In Rev. 9:4 we read concerning that seal: "And it was commanded them [Satan's army] that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads."

One of the important truths that distinguish God's elect and the children of the church of Philadelphia along with her sister church, Smyrna, is that they know and they teach who the kenites are. The word "kenite" means "son of Cain", who was the offspring of Satan as a result of the seduction of mother Eve in the fig grove. (Note: If you are not familiar with what happened in the beginning, in the garden of Eden, then log unto and read the book of "Genesis" on this americanwisdomseries web site. You'll be glad you did.)

Live Link to->>> Genesis

John warns us of those kenites, the antichrists, in this second epistle:

2 John 1:7
For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.
The kenites have deceived most Christians into believing that they, the kenites, are God's chosen people. Worse yet, they have those of the true house of Israel believing they are gentiles. (Note: If you do not know where the Ten Lost Tribes of Israel dwell today, then get a copy of the booklet, "The Abrahamic Covenant", by E. Raymond Capt. you can purchase it from www.artisanpublishers.com)
you can also open the following links.
Live Link to->>>   "Israel's Lost Tribes"
Live Link to->>>  "Do you know who you really are?"
Are you a Israelite?

Let's check out what the church of brotherly love and truth knows regarding these deceivers who deny Jesus is the Messiah:

Rev. 3:7
And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;
These Christians know the true lineage of David and also those who claim to be of his son Judah, but are not.
Rev. 3:8
I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.
Again, God's elect, His children, keep His commandments, His Word, and they are never afraid to speak the truth.
Rev. 3:9
Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.
The kenites are liars, plain and simple, but since most Christians do not know the Parable of the Fig Tree, which Christ specifically told them to learn in Mark 13 and Mat. 24, they do not know who is of Judah and who isn't! They haven't "a clue" much less "the key" of David! The sad part is, because they abide not it the truth, neither do they know the false messiah from the True Messiah. They will be tempted and deceived by the tempter.

Live Link to->>>  The Parable of the Fig Tree

So be careful and stay in His Word and believe Him! Believe what is written and documented in the Word of God. If you listen to what men teach you without trying the spirits as John instructed us in his first epistle, you will be deceived and led astray, guaranteed! John tells us to hang on and hang in there:

2 John 1:8
Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.
The crown of eternal life at the first resurrection is your full reward. This is the same instruction given to those of the church of Philadelphia. Do you see the parallels?
Rev. 3:11
Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
You are personally responsible for your own salvation.
Philip. 2:12 says "...work out your own salvation with fear and trembling." No preacher or minister is going to answer for you when you stand before Christ, and you WILL stand before Him. You see, eternal life is not a "right" and it is not an "entitlement program". Do not think that our Father is going to buy that liberal garbage spewed forth by so many in this final generation that it is somebody else's fault. You have access to the Word of God. OPEN IT!

We now move to another topic: Christian Doctrine. This is a critically important matter in this final generation and it also sets God's elect apart from many of our of Christian brothers and sisters who follow after the traditions of men.

2 John 1:9
Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
The Greek word translated "transgresseth" in this verse is "parabaino" and it means to "go contrary to". There are many preachers who like to puff themselves up and look real good by teaching popular "soothing" traditions. Remember, Jesus Christ foretold us concerning the time just before His return, that MANY would be deceived because they listen to false Christian preachers and ministers who come teaching other doctrines (the traditions of men) in His name and NOT the Word of God. They do not abide in the doctrine of Christ, His Word.
For example, most churches today teach the doctrine of a woman named Margaret McDonald, who in the year 1830 in Glasgow, Scotland, dreamed-up what is today known as the Rapture Theory. The most common version of this teaches that Christ is going to return before the great tribulation of antichrist and "take away" the church, i.e. rapture them up into the clouds. It sounds real good but it just isn't so. It is a lie! And then they tell you, because you are not going to be here during the events of Revelation (as the theory goes), that you do not need to study the Book of Revelation. They are really saying that you do not need to "Abide in Christ", who is the Word of God. All I can say is they are in Big Trouble when Christ returns and if you listen to them without "trying that spirit", you are in big trouble too!

Can you understand that if you "abide in your church" instead of God's Word, and accept the untried, unscriptural traditional doctrines of men, then you do not really have God! Read 2 John 1:9 again!

The reason is because you will worship antichrist, Satan, the false god, that beautiful and charsimatic and supernatural archangel, when he comes here in his glory posing as the true Messiah! Remember that John told us in his first epistle that "antichrist shall come", not maybe!
And if Satan already has you eating out of his hand now, while he's only here in spirit, when he arrives in person as the false messiah, you will believe he is Jesus Christ and he will clean your clock!
So if you are already in his camp, he has your number, i.e. he has you "marked" already
.
That's right! If you have understanding, eyes to see, then you can "see" that most Christians already have the "mark of the beast", which is deception not a tatoo, and yet they do not have the slightest idea that they are already impregnated with lies, which come from the spirit of antichrist. You see, if you do not know something, then you do not know that you do not know it. May the Lord give you eyes to see and ears to hear.
Therefore, if anyone brings that anti-doctrine "fly away" stuff into your house or into your church, do not accept it.
[10] If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:
This does not mean that you cannot entertain or even be friends with those who believe the Rapture Theory, etc. God's elect are not self righteous hypocrites. They love all their brothers and sisters which is one of their characteristics, brotherly love! Just do not endorse idolatrous beliefs or financially support those who spread forth the doctrines of men. Why not? Because by giving them your support you are actually sanctioning doctrine contrary to God's Word and you have therefore become an accessory to Satan's deception. In other words, you are working for the old serpent.
[11] For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.
Remember the closing words of John in his first epistle? "Little children, keep yourself from idolatry" (1 John 5:21).
2 John 1:12
Having many things to write unto you, I would not write with paper and ink: but I trust to come unto you, and speak face to face, that our joy may be full.
Actually, it will not be long before we speak to our beloved brother John face to face and our joy will be full forever and ever!
[13] The children of thy elect sister greet thee. Amen.
Some scholars, such as Alford whom Dr. Bullinger made reference to, believe that the non-mention of the "lady" herself here seems rather to favor the hypothesis that a church is meant. Again, if you have eyes to see and ears to hear there is certainly no need to hypothesize because as they say, "If the shoe fits, wear it!"

The word "sister" in Greek is "adelphe", the feminine of "adelphos" which means brother, from which we get the word "Philadelphia".

adelphos, ad-el-fos', Greek 80; from Greek 1 (a) (as a connective particle) and delphus (the womb); a brother (literal or figurative) near or remote [much like Hebrew 1 ('ab)] :- brother.
Dear Christian,

All the children of the church of brotherly love (and her sister Smyrna too) do greet you.

Amen

To study the Bible is the noblest of all pursuits; to understand it, the highest of all goals.
We pray that with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, you accomplish both.



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