2:191 John 2:19

Those who went out from the fellowship had never truly belonged to it, and their departure made that lack of belonging manifest, for those who truly belonged would have continued with the believers.RH Mar 8, 1906+2 Being with the people is not the same as being of them, since a person can be present and even trusted and valued as a helper yet not truly be of them.5MR 169.1–2+1 Many leave because they are offended when truth in reproof and warning cuts across their practice and cherished ideas, and because truth demands death to self which they refuse, wanting instead to control others and gratify ambition.Lt 28, 1898, par. 7–8+4 Those who thus go out are apostate antichrists who war against the truth they once built up and pass to the enemy's side, and the appearance of many such antichrists is the evidence that it is the last time.Lt 72, 1906, par. 34–36+4 The same departure will happen again in a shaking that separates the untrue from the true, yet the Lord works through it to separate the disaffected from the loyal, truth bears away the victory, and the vacancies are taken by others who receive the truth.Lt 17, 1897, par. 6–8+4

Those who went out from the fellowship had never truly belonged to it, and their going out made that lack of belonging manifest.RH Mar 8, 1906+3 If they had truly been of the believers they would no doubt have continued with them, for continuance is the mark of genuine belonging.RH Mar 8, 1906+4 Their departure therefore discloses that they were not all of the company they left, even though they had once been with the believers in the faith and once been loved in it.Lt 72, 1906, par. 34–36+2 Some became offended at something said or done, withdrew themselves, went over to the ranks of the enemy, and war against the truth they had once built up.Lt 28, 1898, par. 7–8 In turning they give heed to seducing spirits, and as apostates they are called antichrists who do the work of Satan, whose sharp working and the rise of many antichrists prove that it is the last time.Lt 72, 1906, par. 34–36+3

The verse distinguishes being with the people from being of them.5MR 169.1–2+1 A person can be present among the church and even be trusted and valued as a helper, and yet not truly be of it.Lt 155, 1910, par. 1–3 That difference is revealed when one holds strange opinions with perfect confidence that one's own opinion is supreme, fails to view things in a correct light, and holds ideas not in harmony with the mind and working of the Holy Spirit.Lt 155, 1910, par. 1–3 Such a course mars the cause, brings confusion into the ranks by carrying others along, and disqualifies a person from presiding over a conference unless convicted and converted from those opinions.Lt 155, 1910, par. 1–3 The same going out applies to former members who left and to those involved in contention, while special efforts are still to be made by visiting them for their return.5MR 169.1–2

Many go out because they become offended when truth is spoken in reproof and warning irrespective of consequences, having once been with the believers in the faith but withdrawing when something said or done crosses them and passing over to the ranks of the enemy to war against the truth they once built up.Lt 28, 1898, par. 7–8+2 Their hearts are not in harmony with the truth as it is in Jesus, for they cherish ideas, theories and sentiments of their own that do not harmonize with truth and refuse to give up their own ideas when truth conflicts with them.13MR 10.3–11.1+1 On every occasion of persecution many who profess to love the truth are offended because its principles cut directly across their practice and income, and they stumble and fall and apostatize from the faith they once advocated.Lt 28, 1898, par. 7–8+1 Their going out in this way, just as many of Christ's disciples were offended and walked no more with Him, makes manifest that they were not all of the believers, and their appearance as many antichrists is evidence of sharp working by which it is known that it is the last time.Lt 28, 1898, par. 7–8+2

They go out because truth demands death to self and the practice of self-denial, which they refuse.Lt 17, 1897, par. 6–8+1 They want instead to handle the consciences of fellow men and to control minds and talents, gratifying an ambitious desire to rule other men rather than submit to truth, and in this their true characters are revealed.Lt 17, 1897, par. 6–8+1 Some make total shipwreck of the faith, and the same departure will happen again and should cause no surprise.Lt 17, 1897, par. 6–8+1

They turn aside by giving heed to seducing spirits, yielding to temptation and following deceptive teachings after having shared and been loved in the faith community, which shows they did not truly belong to it since those truly of it would have continued with it.Ms 15, 1886, par. 17+2 Those who have received great light but have rejected the love of truth depart from the faith under trial, having no vital union with the true vine.Ms 78, 1897, par. 42–43+1 Those who refuse to be taught of God and hold instead the traditions of men take the side of the enemy against God and are written as antichrist, while those who feed on the Word of God show it by their practice and are on the Lord's side, seeking by precept and example to reform the world.STMW9 55.1–2+1 God's people press together in unity, one with Christ, while those who will not practice His lessons find in antichrist the center of their union, and the two opposing parties stand in collision until the Lord appears and sets up a kingdom that shall stand forever.STMW9 55.1–2+1

Their condition is revealed by persistency in having their own way and by perfect confidence that their own opinion is supreme, unerring and infallible, holding a once-taken position as never to be changed and treating all they do as infallible, which proves a great error.Lt 19d, 1874, par. 4–6+2 They are marked by long murmuring and complaining, by claiming that no one but themselves is competent to lead, by accusing responsible men and presenting them and their work in a false light, and by seeking to gain the confidence of the church to follow their ideas, becoming burdens for the church to carry.Lt 19d, 1874, par. 4–6+1 When the light of truth comes to bring reformation, those who receive it come into harmonious sentiments, but those who continue in opposition create disunion not over the faith received but over the expression of the faith.20MR 225.3+1 Holding strange opinions, failing to view things in a correct light, and holding ideas not in harmony with the mind and working of the Holy Spirit mars the cause, brings confusion into the ranks by carrying others along, and disqualifies a person from presiding over others unless convicted and converted from those opinions.Lt 19d, 1874, par. 4–6+1 A contentious, envious and fault-finding spirit likewise exposes that a person who leaves is not truly in harmony, and while unchanged such a one should not be encouraged to rejoin, for that spirit would bring conflict even among angels and cannot enter heaven.4T 237.2–238.1+2

Some depart over temporal and practical interests, like those who came to Christ only for temporal advantage after the miracle of the loaves and then left Him.Lt 17, 1897, par. 6–8 Men entrusted with business management who practice robbery and deception, act unjustly and strengthen others in wrongdoing, go out from among the people because they are not truly of them.Ms 78, 1897, par. 42–43+1 Those who profess belief while refusing to practice health-reform truth hinder the work, and the standard is to remain uplifted until they reform or depart, their departure revealing that they were not truly part of the community.Lt 95, 1898, par. 7–8+1 Those cut away as branches that bear no fruit are bound up with unbelievers, scoffers and mockers, and to secure their own safety they will bear false witness and betray their brethren, telling where they are concealed and putting persecutors on their track.Ms 78, 1897, par. 42–43+1 If their dishonesty is not searched out, clearly discerned, repented of with a rent heart and not merely outward form, and made right by restitution, they will never see the kingdom, for those who do not fall on the Rock and be broken are uncircumcised in heart and not true in character, and while unchanged they only stir up the worst passions and confirm others in a wrong spirit.Lt 95, 1898, par. 7–8+1

The coming of many antichrists, just as it was heard that antichrist shall come, is the evidence by which it is known that it is the last time.Lt 72, 1906, par. 34–36+3 Those who went out from among believers had once been with them in the faith, but they became offended at something said or done, withdrew themselves, and their going out made manifest that they were not all true believers, for if they had belonged they would have continued with them.Lt 72, 1906, par. 34–36+3 Their appearance as many antichrists is evidence of Satan's sharp working in the last time, in contrast to truly sanctified souls in the family who live the Word of God and are educated and taught of God.Lt 28, 1898, par. 7–8+1 On every occasion of persecution many who profess to love the truth are offended because the principles of truth cut directly across their practice and income, and they stumble and fall and apostatize from the faith they once advocated.Ms 78, 1897, par. 42–43 Having no vital union with the true vine, they are cut away as branches that bear no fruit and are bound up with unbelievers, scoffers and mockers, and to secure their own safety they will bear false witness and betray their brethren, telling where they are concealed and putting persecutors on their track.Ms 78, 1897, par. 42–43

Those who go out are apostates whom the verse calls antichrists, and they are doing the work of Satan.Lt 28, 1898, par. 7–8+2 Having been once with believers, they go over to the ranks of the enemy and war against the truth they had once built up, and their departure makes their true allegiance manifest.Lt 28, 1898, par. 7–8+2 Men's choices and practice reveal whether they belong to Christ's people, for those who feed on the Word of God show it by their practice and are on the Lord's side, seeking by precept and example to reform the world.STMW9 55.1–2+1 Those who refuse to be taught of God hold the traditions of men and at last pass over to the side of the enemy against God and are written Antichrist, while God's people press together in unity, one with Jesus Christ, and those who will not practice the lessons of Christ find in Antichrist the center of their union.STMW9 55.1–2+2 Those who in the crisis allow themselves to be more on the side of the world than of God will eventually place themselves wholly on the side of the world, and those who become confused in their understanding of the Word and fail to see the meaning of antichrist will surely place themselves on the side of antichrist, making manifest that they were not of God's people.Ms 10, 1900, par. 19–22 Every true child of God fights bravely on the side of Christ, becoming more and more distinct from the world by openly conforming to the law and observing the Sabbath as the visible sign and mark of distinction between God's chosen people and the world, a separation witnessed and explained by the fulfillment of the prophecies of Daniel and John in these last days, with the two opposing parties standing in collision until the Lord appears and sets up a kingdom that shall stand forever.20MR 113.3–114.1+1

After leaving the fellowship, men whom Satan inspires unite with evil angels to retard the work over unimportant questions and bring confusion into the ranks, causing rejoicing in the camp of the enemy.20MR 18.1–2 Their going out describes apostasy in a time of crisis when men who have preached the truth to others go out from among believers by giving heed to Satan's temptations.Lt 9, 1897, par. 2 Their going out puts souls on the very brink of ruin, ready to perish, and calls those who remain to humiliation, to seeking the Lord, and to pleading with God to save the perishing and to break the infatuation.Lt 9, 1897, par. 2

The same going out will happen again and should cause no surprise, for apostasies and a shaking are to be expected in the last conflict while heaven works to prepare a people to stand.Lt 17, 1897, par. 6–8+4 Their departure makes manifest that they were not truly of the believers, since those who truly belonged would have continued with them, and it reveals true character by separating the untrue from the true as tares are separated from wheat and dross from metal.Lt 17, 1897, par. 6–8+2 Trials and persecution expose who is steadfast, for some who profess to belong fall away when tribulation comes because they were not firmly grounded, and the refining process leaves them as dross while the shaking blows them away.14MR 286.2+2

Their going out parallels the many disciples of Christ who were offended and walked no more with Him when truth was spoken in reproof and warning irrespective of consequences.Lt 17, 1897, par. 6–8+1 Those who leave have no vital union with the true vine and are cut away as branches bearing no fruit, to be bound up with unbelievers, scoffers and mockers, like every plant the Father has not planted being rooted up.Ms 78, 1897, par. 42–43+2 On every occasion of persecution many who professed to love the truth stumble and fall and apostatize because its principles cut across their practice and income, and to secure their own safety they will bear false witness and betray their brethren, telling where they are concealed and putting persecutors on their track.Ms 78, 1897, par. 42–43

In the last great conflict between the powers of darkness and the powers of light there will be a complete separation of Christ's true children from the world, with no time to assimilate with the world.20MR 113.3–114.1+1 Every true child will fight bravely on the side of Christ, becoming more and more openly distinct by conforming to the law and observing the Sabbath as the visible sign and mark of distinction between God's chosen people and the world, a separation witnessed and explained by the fulfillment of the prophecies of Daniel and John in these last days.Ms 10, 1900, par. 19–22 Those who feed on the Word show it by practice and press together in unity, one with Jesus Christ, while those who refuse to be taught of God hold human traditions and at last pass over to the side of the enemy, so that the two opposing parties stand in collision until the Lord appears and sets up a kingdom that shall stand forever.20MR 113.3–114.1+1

The Lord works through the departure to separate the disaffected from the true and loyal, and truth bears away the victory.13MR 10.3–11.1 The vacancies they make will be taken by others who receive the truth and will not leave the ranks diminished, men of true Christian principle who fear God and glorify Him and become faithful, trustworthy upholders of God's Word in its true bearings and simplicity.13MR 10.3–11.1+1 Those who leave because the truth conflicts with their own ideas thereby make their disaffection evident, while faithful people take the places they leave and continue the work.13MR 10.3–11.1+1

The departure calls for holding the truth fast at all hazards, standing firm on the platform of eternal truth with courage and hope in the precious promises, since it is not yet too late for wrongs to be righted.Ms 56, 1905, par. 30–31 In contrast to those who go out, truly sanctified souls in the family who live the Word of God are educated and taught of God.Lt 164, 1910, par. 5–7 The chapter is to be read to be sure of walking in the knowledge of the truth and being a partaker of the divine nature, holding singleness of purpose and obtaining the genuine experience of walking humbly with God.Lt 116, 1910, par. 2–6 It gives practical instruction for steadfast faith in God and warns against being led astray by human judgment.Ms 237, 1902, par. 6 It gives instruction from Christ to be studied and obeyed to be ready for the Lord's appearing, forbidding exalting self and disparaging others and commanding each soul to criticize self, confess and forsake personal sin, make diligent work for repentance, and set the heart in order without a moment to lose, because souls are in peril in the great day of atonement but can be cleansed from sin.Lt 368, 1904, par. 14–15

The standard is not to be lowered for those who profess belief while refusing to practice the truth, as with health reform, but is to remain uplifted until they reform or depart, and their departure reveals they were not truly part of the community.Lt 95, 1898, par. 7–8 Those who have gone out were not of the fellowship, and therefore no means should be drawn away to help them, but means entrusted by the Lord should be placed where it will build up the cause in the earth, meeting the immediate necessities of faithful work and carrying the message of present truth to needy missionary fields and to those who have never heard it.Ms 13, 1908, par. 8+1 When rebellious elements separated, their departure made plain they were not truly part of it, while those who remained met peacefully and in harmony with God's work.ST Jan 12, 1882 A departure can expose a contentious, envious, and fault-finding spirit showing lack of harmony, and while unchanged such a person should not be encouraged to rejoin, because that spirit would bring conflict even among angels and cannot enter heaven.4T 237.2–238.1 Yet former members who left and those involved in contention are to be visited and given special efforts for their return.5MR 169.1–2

Their going out in a time of crisis, when men who have preached the truth to others go out by giving heed to temptation, puts souls on the very brink of ruin ready to perish, and calls those who remain to humiliation, to seeking the Lord, and to pleading with God to save the perishing and to break the infatuation.Lt 9, 1897, par. 2 Men entrusted with business management who practice robbery and deception, act unjustly, and strengthen others in wrongdoing will go out because they are not truly of the people, and if their dishonesty is not searched out, clearly discerned, repented of with a rent heart and not merely outward form, and made right by restitution, they will never see the kingdom of heaven.Lt 219, 1897, par. 2 Being with yet not of the people is revealed by holding strange opinions, having perfect confidence in one's own opinion and treating it as supreme, failing to view things in a correct light, and holding ideas not in harmony with the mind and working of the Holy Spirit, which mars the cause, brings confusion into the ranks by carrying others along, and disqualifies a person from presiding over others unless convicted and converted from those opinions.Lt 155, 1910, par. 1–3 Those who do not fall on the Rock and be broken are uncircumcised in heart and not true in character, and while unchanged they only stir up the worst passions and confirm others in a wrong spirit.Lt 219, 1897, par. 2