lol. So Jesus warned the disciples staring the Church that the will be led astray (
Mark 13:5-6),
That is not what Jesus said. Read the text
Mk 13:5-6
5 And Jesus began to say to them, “Take heed that no one leads you astray.
6 Many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and they will lead many astray.
Jesus was warning Peter, James, John and Andrew (see vs 3) - apostles that he had been teaching. He said
many would be led astray, not
all the Church.
John wrote that Jesus told him the Synagogue of Satan was already in the Church (
Revelation 2:9 and
3:9),
That's not what the text says. . Read the text
Rev 2:9 “‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) and the slander
of those who say that" they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.
Rev 3:9 Behold, I will make those of
the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not…."
It's
Jews that are of the synagogue of Satan not the Church. The Church is not mentioned
and John says that "they all are not of us," which means that none of them are with the disciples
Again, that's not what the text says. Read the text
1John 2:19They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out, that it might be plain that they all are not of us.
Who is the they? They are the antichrists. None of them are from John. That doesn't say all John's disciples are antichrists or that the whole Church has apostatised..
Please explain to me in detail what John was referring to if he was not pointing to those replacing the disciples as leaders in the Church who weren't with the disciples.
See above. John doesn't say any of them were replacing disciples as leaders of the Church.
I didn't think it warranted a response because it has nothing to do with the verses I posted. If I understand you correctly you pointed to John 16:13 as proof that those who took over from the disciples had halos over their heads. That is a reference from Jesus to his disciples--not those they selected to replace them. Why would Jesus warn them to be careful about being led astray? This certainly didn't refer to their faith in Jesus--because they were rock solid with Jesus. The only option left is that Jesus had to be referring to their leadership of the Church.
I pointed to John 16:13 because Jesus was speaking to the leaders of the Church and promising that the Holy Spirit would lead them into all the truth. Do you really think that Jesus would them just abandon his Church?
He promised in Mt 16:18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock
I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it.
The apostles were careful to ensure correct teaching was passed on. For example
Paul passed on to Timothy what he himself received:
"Hold to the standard of sound teaching that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
Guard the good treasure entrusted to you, with the help of the Holy Spirit living in us." (2 Tim 1:13-14)
And instructs him to proclaim what he has received
"I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingly power: proclaim the word; be persistent whether it is convenient or inconvenient; convince, reprimand, encourage through all patience and teaching." (2 Tim 4:1-2)
Paul instructs Timothy to pass the sound teaching and good treasure to faithful people in his turn
"So you, my child, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And what you heard from me through many witnesses
entrust to faithful people who will have the ability to teach others as well" (2Tim 2:1-2)
In the second century Irenaeus writes
"For all these [heretics] are of much later date than are the bishops to whom the apostles handed over the churches, and this fact I pointed out most carefully in the third book. It is of necessity, then, that these aforementioned heretics, because they are blind to the truth, walk in devious paths, and
on this account the vestiges of their doctrines are scattered about without agreement or connection. The path of those, however, who belong to the Church goes around the whole world, for it has the firm tradition of the apostles, enabling us to see that the faith of all is one and the same" (Irenaeus,
Against Heresies. 5:20:1 AD 180-199).
and
"Polycarp was instructed not only by the apostles and conversed with many who had seen Christ, but was also appointed bishop of the church in Smyrna by the apostles in Asia. I saw him in my early youth, for he tarried a long time and when quite old departed this life in a glorious and most noble martyrdom.
He always taught those things which he learned from the apostles and which the Church had handed down and which are true. To these things the churches in Asia bear witness, as do also the successors of Polycarp even to the present time" (Irenaeus,
Against Heresies 3:3:4 AD 180-199)
