“Diotrephes” means “nourished by Jupiter” and “Jupiter” means “heavenly father”. In other words, “Diotrephes” was “nourished” by other men calling him by a high name….such as “father”. He signifies all of those who love to be first (the “preeminence”) among men in the churches today.
Diotrephes shows us how the “man of sin” of every church will act when the “brothers” will come forth to their churches to preach the Word of Truth to them in this coming time.
They are the “man of sin” that shall be revealed. The man of “sin” shall reveal himself with evil speaking….prating against the brothers who will be sent to them with malicious words. The “man of sin”… “Diotrephes”…loves to be first among their congregations and will exalt himself as he will exercise his authority over them. He will oppose and exalt himself above all that is called God…so that he will sit in the temple of God showing himself that he is God.
Diotrephes did all of these things….and is the example of the coming time that the “man of sin” shall reveal himself in every church gathering at the hearing of the Word of Truth.
3 John 1:9-11 KJV
(9) I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not.
He will exalt himself in the temple of God as he will not receive and believe those who will preach the Word of Truth to them and will demand that his followers glorify him over God with his impressive title….such as “father”, reverend, etc…… and he will forbid others to receive them and will cast out any that do.
Diotrephes did cast out of the church any who received the brothers and their words. This will be repeated in this coming time. He that letteth will let until he be taken out of the way.
(10) Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church.
We are not to follow after their evil….their “pernicious ways”…but follow that which is good.
(11) Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.
We are to call no man “father”…for we have only ONE Father in heaven. “Diotrephes” was “nourished” by the title of “father”…or “master”…or “teacher”. Any who will exalt themselves in the temple of God…the “man of sin”… shall be abased. We are to glorify God over men.
Matthew 23:8-12 KJV
(8) But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.
(9) And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.
(10) Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.
Diotrephes loved to be first among his church.....and did not behave humbly towards the brothers who spoke the Truth. He did not serve them "meat" ...that is, being hospitable....but instead began to "beat upon" them with malicious words. He did not let brotherly love continue and entertain "strangers"....but instead exalted himself.
(11) But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.
(12) And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.
The falling away shall come….a time when they will not show any love towards those who will preach the Truth to them. They will treat the blood of the covenant as a common thing. We are to have love for one another as He loved us and gave His life for us. But they will not have any regard for the covenant as they will follow after that which is evil as they will prate against the brothers with malicious words.
2 Thessalonians 2:
(1) Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,
(2) That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
The flattering tongue of men that once spoke goodly words and fair speeches shall “fall away” and be replaced with a mouth that will speak all kinds of evil against those who will preach the Word of Truth to them. They will be judged by their own words.
(3) Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
They….who will love to have preeminence among their congregations….shall exalt themselves as they will exercise their authority over their followers. They will forbid others from assembling together in the Truth…..keeping others from entering into the kingdom of heaven. They will forbid many from receiving the Word of Truth and forbid them from receiving the brothers who will have come to them speaking the Truth.
(4) Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
Here is a hint to look at what Jesus had said to His disciples: Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?
(5) Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?
(6) And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.
(7) For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
These things He had spoken to all of us so that we shall not be tripped up when they come into being. The time will come when they shall put you out of their assemblies (like Diotrephes did) for receiving the Word of Truth as preached through the Spirit of Truth.
Many of the believers will “linger” around in their churches like Lot who “lingered” in Sodom. But through the mercy of our God, they will put you….the believer…out of their congregations but it is for your own good.
He that letteth will let until he be taken out of the way….for God will not destroy the righteous with the wicked. (Genesis 18:23). They will put you out of their assemblies and will speak evil of you… “killing” you with their tongues. They will believe a lie: that they are doing God “service” for speaking evil things about you.
John 16:1-4 KJV
(1) These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended.
They will put the believers out of their assemblies….by the mercy of God who will not destroy the righteous with the wicked. But they will believe a lie that they will be doing God “service” for speaking evil of you.
(2) They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.
(3) And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me.
Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? (2 Thessalonians 2:5). These words are the words of Jesus who has told us all of these things so that when the time shall come, we shall REMEMBER that He told us of them.
(4) But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them. And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you.
BLESSED are YOU when they shall hate you and when they shall SEPARATE you from their company. You are blessed when they shall cast you out of their churches for believing in the Word of Truth. They will not believe it and will cast out any who do.....because of the MERCY OF GOD.
He that now letteth will let until he be taken out of the way…..out of their churches so that you will not share in their sins and plagues. They will believe in a lie and REPROACH you and cast out your name as evil. They will slander you….but we are not to “look back” and return evil for evil.
Luke 6:22 KJV
(22) Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake.
Lot “lingered” around in Sodom after he was warned to depart or be consumed with the iniquity of the city. But God was merciful and the “men” took him and his family by the hand and put them out of the city. The same mercy that was shown unto Lot shall be shown unto those who will “linger” about in their churches after they have heard and believed in the Word of Truth in this coming time.
Genesis 19:15-17 KJV
(15) And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city.
(16) And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the LORD being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city.
(17) And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed.
The same day that Lot went out of Sodom, it rained fire and brimstone from heaven. This “fire” is the reproach of those whom we will leave behind. The tongue is a “fire” that will speak evil of you as you will escape from them. They will cast out your name as evil….calling you an “evil doer” when they will cast you out of their unbelieving assemblies. Their own words shall destroy them…and our faith shall be tested in the “fire” of reproach. It will be a “fiery trial” of our faith in His Truth.
Luke 17:29-30 KJV
(29) But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.
(30) Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.
Their reproach of us will be the “fiery trial” of our faith….but we are not to render evil for evil. We are baptized by fire as we are made partakers of Christ's sufferings.
1 Peter 4:12-16 KJV
(12) Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
(13) But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
They shall reproach us for the “name”…the authority…of Christ. …for we shall submit to Him and not to them in their church ways and thoughts which are devoid of the Truth.
(14) If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.
Let us not look back….rendering evil for evil. Let us not take any of their things with us….their covetous teachings. We are not to look back towards their things with pleasure….nor wishing them “Godspeed”.
(15) But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters.
(16) Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.
We are to lay aside all of the evil that shall want to come out of our mouths when they shall reproach us. We are to run the race out of their churches unto Him….the finisher of our faith.
Hebrews 12:1-11 KJV
(1) Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
(2) Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Consider Him that endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself….lest you be wearied and faint in your minds when we are also persecuted by those we leave behind in their churches of envy and strife.
(3) For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
(4) Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.
It rained fire and brimstone out of heaven. Brimstone = divine. We are to endure the chastening…for all shall be persecuted for our faith….the fiery trial of our faith. He is MERCIFUL and will have them cast us out of their company. It is part of His plan of MERCY for them to cast out any who will linger around in their assemblies so as not to suffer their punishment for not believing in the Truth and speaking evil of it.
(5) And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:
(6) For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
(7) If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
(8) But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
(9) Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
It will not be “joyous” but grievous….but it shall be for our own good.....
(10) For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.
(11) Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
It is the will of God that we suffer their reproach by continuing to do well in the face of their evil slandering. We are to show love towards our enemies thereby glorifying God…doing His will.
1 Peter 4:17-19 KJV
(17) For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
(18) And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?
(19) Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.
He that letteth will let until he be taken out of the way and then shall the wicked be revealed…..for once they have cast you out of their churches, they will reproach you with malicious words….all the while believing a lie that they are doing God “service” for doing such things.
2 Thessalonians 2:
(8) And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
(9) Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
(10) And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
(11) And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
They will NOT BELIEVE in the Truth but will have pleasure in their unrighteousness as they will cast you of their churches (because of God’s mercy) and then speak evil of you.
(12) That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
Diotrephes shows us how the “man of sin” of every church will act when the “brothers” will come forth to their churches to preach the Word of Truth to them in this coming time.
They are the “man of sin” that shall be revealed. The man of “sin” shall reveal himself with evil speaking….prating against the brothers who will be sent to them with malicious words. The “man of sin”… “Diotrephes”…loves to be first among their congregations and will exalt himself as he will exercise his authority over them. He will oppose and exalt himself above all that is called God…so that he will sit in the temple of God showing himself that he is God.
Diotrephes did all of these things….and is the example of the coming time that the “man of sin” shall reveal himself in every church gathering at the hearing of the Word of Truth.
3 John 1:9-11 KJV
(9) I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not.
He will exalt himself in the temple of God as he will not receive and believe those who will preach the Word of Truth to them and will demand that his followers glorify him over God with his impressive title….such as “father”, reverend, etc…… and he will forbid others to receive them and will cast out any that do.
Diotrephes did cast out of the church any who received the brothers and their words. This will be repeated in this coming time. He that letteth will let until he be taken out of the way.
(10) Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church.
We are not to follow after their evil….their “pernicious ways”…but follow that which is good.
(11) Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.
We are to call no man “father”…for we have only ONE Father in heaven. “Diotrephes” was “nourished” by the title of “father”…or “master”…or “teacher”. Any who will exalt themselves in the temple of God…the “man of sin”… shall be abased. We are to glorify God over men.
Matthew 23:8-12 KJV
(8) But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.
(9) And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.
(10) Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.
Diotrephes loved to be first among his church.....and did not behave humbly towards the brothers who spoke the Truth. He did not serve them "meat" ...that is, being hospitable....but instead began to "beat upon" them with malicious words. He did not let brotherly love continue and entertain "strangers"....but instead exalted himself.
(11) But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.
(12) And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.
The falling away shall come….a time when they will not show any love towards those who will preach the Truth to them. They will treat the blood of the covenant as a common thing. We are to have love for one another as He loved us and gave His life for us. But they will not have any regard for the covenant as they will follow after that which is evil as they will prate against the brothers with malicious words.
2 Thessalonians 2:
(1) Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,
(2) That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
The flattering tongue of men that once spoke goodly words and fair speeches shall “fall away” and be replaced with a mouth that will speak all kinds of evil against those who will preach the Word of Truth to them. They will be judged by their own words.
(3) Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
They….who will love to have preeminence among their congregations….shall exalt themselves as they will exercise their authority over their followers. They will forbid others from assembling together in the Truth…..keeping others from entering into the kingdom of heaven. They will forbid many from receiving the Word of Truth and forbid them from receiving the brothers who will have come to them speaking the Truth.
(4) Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
Here is a hint to look at what Jesus had said to His disciples: Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?
(5) Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?
(6) And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.
(7) For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
These things He had spoken to all of us so that we shall not be tripped up when they come into being. The time will come when they shall put you out of their assemblies (like Diotrephes did) for receiving the Word of Truth as preached through the Spirit of Truth.
Many of the believers will “linger” around in their churches like Lot who “lingered” in Sodom. But through the mercy of our God, they will put you….the believer…out of their congregations but it is for your own good.
He that letteth will let until he be taken out of the way….for God will not destroy the righteous with the wicked. (Genesis 18:23). They will put you out of their assemblies and will speak evil of you… “killing” you with their tongues. They will believe a lie: that they are doing God “service” for speaking evil things about you.
John 16:1-4 KJV
(1) These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended.
They will put the believers out of their assemblies….by the mercy of God who will not destroy the righteous with the wicked. But they will believe a lie that they will be doing God “service” for speaking evil of you.
(2) They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.
(3) And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me.
Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? (2 Thessalonians 2:5). These words are the words of Jesus who has told us all of these things so that when the time shall come, we shall REMEMBER that He told us of them.
(4) But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them. And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you.
BLESSED are YOU when they shall hate you and when they shall SEPARATE you from their company. You are blessed when they shall cast you out of their churches for believing in the Word of Truth. They will not believe it and will cast out any who do.....because of the MERCY OF GOD.
He that now letteth will let until he be taken out of the way…..out of their churches so that you will not share in their sins and plagues. They will believe in a lie and REPROACH you and cast out your name as evil. They will slander you….but we are not to “look back” and return evil for evil.
Luke 6:22 KJV
(22) Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake.
Lot “lingered” around in Sodom after he was warned to depart or be consumed with the iniquity of the city. But God was merciful and the “men” took him and his family by the hand and put them out of the city. The same mercy that was shown unto Lot shall be shown unto those who will “linger” about in their churches after they have heard and believed in the Word of Truth in this coming time.
Genesis 19:15-17 KJV
(15) And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city.
(16) And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the LORD being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city.
(17) And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed.
The same day that Lot went out of Sodom, it rained fire and brimstone from heaven. This “fire” is the reproach of those whom we will leave behind. The tongue is a “fire” that will speak evil of you as you will escape from them. They will cast out your name as evil….calling you an “evil doer” when they will cast you out of their unbelieving assemblies. Their own words shall destroy them…and our faith shall be tested in the “fire” of reproach. It will be a “fiery trial” of our faith in His Truth.
Luke 17:29-30 KJV
(29) But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.
(30) Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.
Their reproach of us will be the “fiery trial” of our faith….but we are not to render evil for evil. We are baptized by fire as we are made partakers of Christ's sufferings.
1 Peter 4:12-16 KJV
(12) Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
(13) But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
They shall reproach us for the “name”…the authority…of Christ. …for we shall submit to Him and not to them in their church ways and thoughts which are devoid of the Truth.
(14) If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.
Let us not look back….rendering evil for evil. Let us not take any of their things with us….their covetous teachings. We are not to look back towards their things with pleasure….nor wishing them “Godspeed”.
(15) But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters.
(16) Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.
We are to lay aside all of the evil that shall want to come out of our mouths when they shall reproach us. We are to run the race out of their churches unto Him….the finisher of our faith.
Hebrews 12:1-11 KJV
(1) Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
(2) Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Consider Him that endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself….lest you be wearied and faint in your minds when we are also persecuted by those we leave behind in their churches of envy and strife.
(3) For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
(4) Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.
It rained fire and brimstone out of heaven. Brimstone = divine. We are to endure the chastening…for all shall be persecuted for our faith….the fiery trial of our faith. He is MERCIFUL and will have them cast us out of their company. It is part of His plan of MERCY for them to cast out any who will linger around in their assemblies so as not to suffer their punishment for not believing in the Truth and speaking evil of it.
(5) And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:
(6) For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
(7) If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
(8) But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
(9) Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
It will not be “joyous” but grievous….but it shall be for our own good.....
(10) For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.
(11) Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
It is the will of God that we suffer their reproach by continuing to do well in the face of their evil slandering. We are to show love towards our enemies thereby glorifying God…doing His will.
1 Peter 4:17-19 KJV
(17) For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
(18) And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?
(19) Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.
He that letteth will let until he be taken out of the way and then shall the wicked be revealed…..for once they have cast you out of their churches, they will reproach you with malicious words….all the while believing a lie that they are doing God “service” for doing such things.
2 Thessalonians 2:
(8) And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
(9) Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
(10) And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
(11) And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
They will NOT BELIEVE in the Truth but will have pleasure in their unrighteousness as they will cast you of their churches (because of God’s mercy) and then speak evil of you.
(12) That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.