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.

Comments

Romans 8:18: For I Consider That The Sufferings Of This Present Time Are Not Worth Comparing

Romans 8:18 [18] For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. (ESV) Perspective. What an important word. Let's be honest. We do not like the idea of suffering. We will do almost anything to avoid any kind of suffering. Some churches have gone so far as to preach against the idea of suffering, declaring it to not be a part of the true believer's life. Paul is not shy about the topic. Paul uses the sufferings of this present time as a means to consider the greater glory that awaits us. Perspective. Paul is not in any way attempting to diminish our suffering. A view toward eternity puts our suffering in a proper understanding. Yes, our suffering is terrible. In the grand scheme of eternity it is not even worth comparison. Maybe you are thinking that Paul does not know what he is talking about when it comes to suffering. In 2 Corinthians 11 Paul describes countless beatings, often near death,

Romans 11:24: For If You Were Cut From What Is By Nature A Wild Olive Tree, And Grafted, Contrary To Nature, Into A Cultivated Olive Tree . . .

Romans 11:24 [24] For if you were cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, the natural branches, be grafted back into their own olive tree. (ESV) We continue looking at the illustration of an olive tree. The root of the tree is the covenant relationship relationship of God with Abraham. Abraham's faith is what this spiritual tree is built on. The first branches would have been the faithful people of Israel, who like Abraham, placed their faith in God. They believed God, just like Abraham, and it was credited to them as righteousness. There were branches of the people of Israel who never placed their faith in God. Because these branches were not true followers of God they were broken off of the tree. Faith in God was the essential element that made the branches true branches of this spiritual tree. Some branches remained. Others, the faithless unbelievers, were removed. After Jesu

Romans 15:20-21: And Thus I Make It My Ambition To Preach The Gospel, Not Where Christ Has Already Been Named

Romans 15:20–21 [20] and thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else's foundation, [21] but as it is written, “Those who have never been told of him will see, and those who have never heard will understand.” (ESV) We need to be reminded continually that the message of the Gospel is intended to move all across the world. Jesus said that his followers were to preach the Gospel, starting in Jerusalem, and continue preaching the Gospel to the whole world. Christians have not always been good at delivering the Gospel message as far and as often as they should. In the first century church it took intense persecution to motivate the disciples in Jerusalem to bring the Gospel to Judea and Samaria. Once the disciples fled to new regions they shared the Gospel wherever they went. Would the disciples have preached the Gospel without the persecution? We may never know. Some probably would have stayed in their co

Search This Blog