:1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
2:2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.
no where, does it say either the leaders or the followers were saved. It says they had knowledge of the truth and forsook it
AMEN. No man is without excuse and lots of men have knowledge of the truth. That doesn't mean they understand and believe the truth. Satan knows God is God; he just refuses to worship Him.