Chapter 6
1 John 2:18-27
1 John 2:18 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. 19 They 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 become plain that they all are not of us.
John now amplifies the last part of verse 17, “but whoever does the will of God abides forever” (ESV) by calling our attention to the fact that the time we live in, is indeed the last period of time before Jesus returns. The Greek word translated here as ‘hour’ (hora) can essentially mean any definite period of time, not just an hour, it can also be used to refer to a certain time period like a season, depending on context. The word ‘hora’, in just the ESV alone, can be seen translated as ‘moment’, ‘day’, ‘instantly’, ‘while’, ‘hours’ and ‘short time’. Here John is referring to the last ‘season’ on earth or using the language from other epistle writers, the last days before Jesus returns (see also 2 Peter 3:3; Jude 18; James 5:3; 2 Timothy 3:1).
There are few words that can stir up an emotional debate like the word ‘antichrist’, especially these days. Even though the term is only found in John’s epistles, the word is used to describe a coming evil personality. Scripture does indeed teach of a coming ‘beast’ (as John will call him in the book of Revelation) that will oppose the teachings of Jesus and assume world leadership for a while. There has been no end to the speculation as to who that person might be throughout history, including Nero, Muhammad, Napoleon, Mussolini, Hitler,, and of course Luther’s favorite, the papacy (a number of popes throughout history have been called the antichrist). This verse is indeed responsible for the ‘title’ of ‘antichrist’ for that coming personality, but that is not what John is writing about here in this epistle. If you want to learn more about the person that these scholars, teachers, and pastors are talking about these days that they give the title of antichrist to, you can read about him in Revelation chapters 13 and 17; Zechariah 11:16-17; Daniel chapters 7 and 11; Matthew 24:15-25 and 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12, these verses should allow you to discover a few characteristics and possibly give you some other hints regarding the coming ‘beast’, if that interests you (or see “Everything a Christian Should Know About Prophecy”). John is referring to several people, not one individual, that the enemy has placed in our lives, actively working against the kingdom of God (see Jude 1:3).
The word ‘antichrist’ combines two Greek words together. The word ‘anti’ in the Greek refers to the concept of being against something as well as the idea of being “in place of” something. In this case, possibly both definitions apply, being against and desiring to replace Jesus. The second word everyone knows is the word in the Greek ‘christos’ which means anointed, that word connects us to the Old Testament usage that then ties in the process of being anointed for: 1) priestly duty (read Leviticus 4:3-16; 6:22); 2) preparation for becoming a king (read 1 Samuel 2:10 and 35); 3) for preparing prophets (read 1 Kings 19:16); 4) for those that speak for God other than prophets (see 1 Chronicles 16:22; Psalms 105:15); and 5) the same term, which is the Hebrew word ‘mashiyach’ (or as it’s transliterated into English, ‘Messiah’), is a reference to the coming Savior (read Psalm 2:2; 18:50; 20:6; 28:8; Daniel 9:25-26, Habakkuk 3:13) as it is used extensively in the New Testament. [Note: These are only a few select verses, please explore Strong’s Hebrew #4899 and Greek #5545 in any exhaustive concordance for more detail.]
John acknowledges that a future antichrist is coming, but now gets to the subject of the letter by saying that many antichrists have already come on the scene. Instead of pointing to a yet future personality, John calls our attention to the fact that there are people around us today that oppose Jesus and any deny the truth. They seek out to usurp the authority of Jesus by any means possible, including falsely representing Him (read Matthew 24:24; Mark 13:21-23). John considers this information important as it is a serious threat to all Christians regardless of Spiritual maturity, physical location, or time in history. He is saying that a supernatural, God-opposing, evil, demonic force is out to stop Christians from doing what Jesus has called us to do. He is also saying don’t be fooled in believing that you are not affected (read Ephesians 2:2-3 and Colossians 1:13). We know that God’s plan is often opposed as we see in the Bible that this opposition was responsible for the fall of man, the worldwide flood, the tower of Babel, etc. John wants us to see that this opposition is also against us personally. We cannot become complacent in our thinking or in our lifestyles.
The first thing John tells us about these people is that they were once with us, part of our fellowship of believers. Perhaps they’re still around! At some point in these people’s lives they must have given Christianity a ‘try’ or at least said they accepted Jesus, but never truly did (or perhaps they lied from the beginning). They may have even called themselves “Christians” and there are a number of so-called “Christians” and “Christian groups” in the world today (for example just think about those people who knock on your doors at home). Some commentators point out that many of these people may have had an agenda to bring down Christianity by sabotaging it from within. John tells us that they really were not Christians because if they truly were they would not have left in the first place! This may sound like a strong statement for John to make but as the writer of the gospel of John, but he also knew that Jesus would never let someone get away from Him (read John 6:39; 10:28; 17:12; 18:19; Romans 8:31-39; 2 Corinthians 1:21-22; Ephesians 1:13-14; 4:30; Hebrews 7:20-25; Jude 1:24).
1 John 2:20 But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge. 21 I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth. 22 Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son. 23 No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also. 24 Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father. 25 And this is the promise that he made to us—eternal life.
Continuing on the theme of anointing, John says we also have been anointed (Greek word here is ‘charisma” which means simply ‘oil’, some form of ointment, or the act of being ‘oiled’) by the Holy One (read 2 Corinthians 1:21 and Hebrews 1:9). As one that is anointed ourselves (verse 20), we also have been given knowledge (read John 14:26) and we know that the Word of God is true and so if someone denies that Jesus is the Christ (Messiah), John tells us that we can call that person an antichrist, as they do not know Jesus nor do they know His Father. What does John mean by denying that Jesus is the Christ? Any denial, deviation, or distortion of the Biblical view of Jesus, including: 1) denying His incarnation; 2) being born the Son of God; 3) being born the Son of man; 4) being born a king; 5) being a redeemer; 6) being our high priest, and of course; 7) any denial of Him being the promised Messiah. So if anyone promotes any other view, John is calling them an antichrist.
John contrasts the thinking of an antichrist to a true believer by saying, if anyone who confesses the Son has the Father as well. The term translated here as ‘confesses’ can also relay the idea of agreeing with, a willingness to profess the truth, and to offer praise. John then returns to the theme of abiding in Jesus, showing the need to abide in Him at all times. What does that mean? One way of looking at it is that God and His Word must always be at the forefront of our minds. John then reminds us of His promise to us that we have eternal life with Him (read John 17:2).
1 John 2:26 I write these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you. 27 But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie—just as it has taught you, abide in him.
Once again John raises a red flag in order to warn us that there are people, antichrists if you will, that not only deny Jesus (see Philippians 2:5-11 and Colossians 2:9) but they are after you and me, right now, today. False prophets and teachers continue their work, as they have throughout church history, just as Jesus warned (read Matthew 24:24; Mark 13:21-23; John 10:4-5). So we should pay attention to and heed the words Paul wrote after he heard that some people at the church of Galatia were teaching and preaching a different gospel, “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed. For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.” (Galatians 1:6-10, ESV)
John reminds us that we are not alone, nor will we be abandoned, but he does warn us that we need to abide in Him (stay put and don’t wander off!) We possess and know the Word of God (if we are abiding in the Word, we must already know the Word, see also Jeremiah 31:31-34 and Hebrews 8:11-31) and know that it is correct (read John 6:53-58; 8:31-38 and 14:15-17). If we remain in the Word we will be able to see and identify any liar or deception when approached.
The Greek word that is translated ‘abide’ (menō) can be found 102 times in the New Testament. By combining all of the texts attributed to John we see that he used the word more than any other single author (68 times with 24 of those occurrences found in this epistle alone). The word ‘abide’ simply means to stay or remain. In order for anyone to stay somewhere implies knowledge of where you are currently located and what you are doing. John says we are to literally abide in Him. Meaning we are to know and stay in His Word (read John 8:31; 14:23) so that we can know how to abide in Him (read John 6:56; 15:1-11), so stay put! By now you should begin to see two primary and very important themes emerging in this epistle, namely the need to love and and the need to abide.