Ques. 122. Do the words, "doctrine of Christ" in 2 John 8-118Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. 9Whosoever 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. 10If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: 11For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds. (2 John 8‑11), include the whole truth of the New Testament, or do they refer in particular to the person of Christ? Why does it say they "have not God"? W. H.
Ans. The words, " doctrine of Christ", refer to the person of Christ, who was "from the beginning." (1 John 1:11That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; (1 John 1:1).) The apostle insists on their abiding in what was from the beginning. (1 John 2:2424Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father. (1 John 2:24).)
The word "transgresseth" (verse 9) means "goes forward", that is, giving up what was from the beginning. If any did this they were apostates and such teachers were antichrists (1 John 2:18,1918Little 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. 19They 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. (1 John 2:18‑19)), who had thus given up Christianity. Notice in verse 19 the "us" is the apostles and their teachings. Those who give up the "doctrine of Christ" therefore "have not God". They are blasphemers. We could not have fellowship with blasphemers of Christ. The elect lady is instructed not to receive such into her house, nor to salute such, for if she did receive them, she was partaking of their evil deeds. Nothing could be more serious; it is high treason against the Lord. But now quite often those who are separated from us through division, we can freely own as dear children of God.
Ans. These scriptures apply to the time when the Lord shall come to this world as Son of man.
Those left behind will be the King's subjects in the earthly kingdom.
Judgment swept the earth in Noah's day and in Lot's day; so shall it be when the Son of man comes.
We often hear the words "One shall be taken and the other left," applied to the Lord's coming for His Church, but those who are taken in that event, are taken to be with the Lord, and those who are left are like the foolish virgins, left behind to believe the lie, and for judgment.
Matt. 25:1313Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh. (Matthew 25:13) should read, "Watch there for, for ye know neither the day nor the hour." (See New Translation and Revised Translation.) The term Son of man should not be here, as this passage stands in connection with the Lord's coming for His own.