1 John 2:18: Antichrists Have Come

1 John 2:18
[18] Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour. (ESV)

Are we living in the last days?  This is a question that has been asked for the last two thousand years.  Every generation looks at what is going on in the world around them and comes to the conclusion that we are in the last days. My parents who have now been married for close to sixty years tell of how they did not think they would be able to be married because they were sure that the Lord would return before they had the opportunity to get married.

So, are we living in the last days? Actually, John says that we are in the last hour! That last hour is obviously a phrase that is much longer than a time segment of sixty minutes.  This hour represents the time period between Christ's ascension until his return.  We eagerly await his return, and of course we recognize that we are living in the last days, or as John says, the last hour.

So, what should we be doing in the last hour?  Well, for one thing, we should be on the lookout for those whom John refers to as antichrists.  This is not just a singular figure that John writes about in the Book of Revelation, but here John refers to many antichrists who have come and are against the proper teaching and true gospel of Jesus Christ.  This letter that he writes is to warn the church of the false teaching that has infiltrated the church.  These false teachers are clearly antichrists.

It sounds kind of severe to call those who promote false teaching as antichrists, but that is what John is saying.  It is interesting to note that many of the leaders of the Protestant Reformation referred to the Pope as the "papal antichrist." That was certainly Martin Luther's favorite title for the Pope.  The point is this:  until Christ returns there will be false teachers; antichrists.  We are to know the truth and be aware of the antichrists.

Do you know the truth well enough to counter the deception of false teachers?  Are you aware of any antichrists?  How will you respond?  I encourage you to know the truth in God's Word. It is the last hour.