1 John 2:18
“Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour.”
The Audience
Little Children – John is addressing his little children (παιδίον). Note that this is the same word used in 1 John 2:13. Although παιδίον may refer to children up to seven years of age, it is likely being used figuratively in this context by John to refer to Christians as beloved children of God, possibly who are maturing in their faith but still have much to know and understand.
It is the Last Hour
Last – The root Greek word used for last is ἔσχατος (es’-khat-os), which literally means last, last things or the furthest, extreme end [1]. This is also the root word for eschatology, which means “the study of last things.”
Hour – The root Greek word used for hour is ὥρα (hora), which literally means an hour, or figuratively can mean a finite period of time or season, or a divinely predetermined time period [1].
What does John mean by “the last hour?”
Limiting ourselves to the meaning of the Greek words, the last hour likely refers to a last, climactic, finite, predetermined, period of time. However, the phrase “last hour” is used only in 1 John 2:18 and not elsewhere in Scripture (at least in the NKJV). So then:
What other phrases or concepts in Scripture might be synonymous with the “last hour” (from which we may gain insight into its meaning)?
The Last Days! This phrase is used in six verses in the NKJV, in which different aspects of the last days (or hour) are revealed:
• Genesis 49:1,10 – This prophecy by Jacob looks forward to the period of time in which the Messiah would come;
• Hebrews 1:2 – This is the period of time in which God clearly spoke through Jesus;
• Acts 2:17 – This is the era in which God outpoured (outpours) His Holy Spirit;
• 2 Timothy 3:1-4 – These are perilous times in which people will be thoroughly unholy;
• James 5:1-8 – It’s the era of loving mammon that culminates in the 2nd Advent of Jesus; and
• 2 Peter 3:1-4 – This is the time in which scoffers will come who walk by worldly lust and mock Christians prior to Jesus’ 2nd Advent!
How did John know that it was / is “the last hour (1 John 2:18)?”
Many antichrists have come!
How do we know today that it’s “the last hour” or “the last days”?
The world that we live in very neatly fits the descriptions in these seven verses!
Many Antichrists have Come
Anti – The prefix anti means opposed to or against, and it is clear that many have been antichrist (opposed to or against Christ) since the beginning of His Church. Take, for example:
Saul – Prior to his conversion (and transformation into the apostle Paul), Saul was actively opposed to Christ and His Church. As it is written:
• Acts 9:13 – “Then Ananias answered, ‘Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem.’”
• Acts 9:26 – “And when Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, and did not believe that he was a disciple.”
• Phillipians 3:4b-6a – “If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church;”
The Pharisee Saul actively persecuted Christians to such an extent that they feared him and doubted his conversion (to Paul the disciple of Jesus)! Possibly this is one of the reasons that Paul seemed so humbled that God chose him — the chief of sinners (1 Timothy 1:15) and self-described least of all the saints (Ephesians 3:8a) — to preach the gospel of grace to the Gentiles (Ephesians 3:8b). As another example consider …
Nero – In the first century A.D., Emperor Nero may have initiated the first known mass persecution of Christians by the Romans, apparently to shift blame for the burning of Rome, of which he was personally accused:
“Consequently, to get rid of the report, Nero fastened the guilt and inflicted the most exquisite tortures on a class hated for their abominations, called Christians by the populace. Christus, from whom the name had its origin, suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of one of our procurators, Pontius Pilatus, and a most mischievous superstition, thus checked for the moment, again broke out not only in Judaea, the first source of the evil, but even in Rome, where all things hideous and shameful from every part of the world find their centre and become popular. Accordingly, an arrest was first made of all who pleaded guilty; then, upon their information, an immense multitude was convicted, not so much of the crime of firing the city, as of hatred against mankind. Mockery of every sort was added to their deaths. Covered with the skins of beasts, they were torn by dogs and perished, or were nailed to crosses, or were doomed to the flames and burnt, to serve as a nightly illumination, when daylight had expired (Tacitus, Annals, 15:44).”
Therefore, know and understand this, that many antichrists have come and exist in the world today, some of whom “simply” reject Christ as Messiah and King (1 John 2:22), and some of whom actively engage in the persecution of God’s people. As it is written (2 Timothy 3:12):
“Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.”
That said, Christians should not forget that which was spoken by the Lord Jesus (John 16:33):
“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
I think that for this reason John wrote (prior to 1 John 2:18) that (1 John 2:14):
“I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the wicked one.”
It’s important to remember that though Satan may have limited authority to wreak havoc on earth for a short time, those who have been saved by grace through faith in Christ Jesus have already overcome the wicked one!
The Antichrist is Coming
Who is he? When is he coming? How will we know how to identify him? The answers to these questions aren’t entirely explicit in Scripture, in particular as the term “antichrist” is exclusive to 1 John. However, there are related passages in which he is referred to by other names. In this regard, let’s take a look at 2 Thessalonians 2:1-9:
“Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming. The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders.”
2 Thessalonians 2:1
What two things is Paul primarily writing about?
• The coming of the Lord (His 2nd advent); and
• Our gathering together to Him (the Rapture)
Remember: John’s use of “the last hour” likely refers to the finite, limited period of time which culminates in the 2nd advent of Christ.
2 Thessalonians 2:2-2:3
According to Paul, in ca. 51 A.D. (the time of this letter), had the “Day of Christ” already come?
No!
Why is Paul writing about these two things?
So that Christians would not be deceived, which was also a concern of John (1 John 2:26)
It appears that there were false teachers (spirits – see 1 John 4:1), claiming to speak on behalf of the apostles, spreading false doctrine by letter and by word! The apostle Paul even names two of these false teachers: Hymenaeus and Philetus (2 Timothy 2:17-18).
2 Thessalonians 2:3-2:8a
That day (the 2nd Advent of Christ) will not come unless (or until) three things take place:
2:3 – the falling away (NKJV), rebellion (ESV/NIV), great rebellion (NLT), or apostacy (NASB) comes first. The Greek word is ἀποστασία (ap-os-tas-ee’-ah) and means a “defection from the truth” or “abandonment of faith” [1].
What could this be referring to?
• 1 Timothy 4:1 / Matthew 24:12 – Widespread deception in the church?
• Revelation 13:8 – Worship of the Beast from the Sea (the Antichrist)?
2:7 – He (he) who now restrains will be taken away. What / who does He (he) restrain? By implication, the man of sin. And who could possibly be strong enough to restrain Satan or his Antichrist? Only God. Thus many, including myself, infer from this passage that He who now restrains is the Holy Spirit, and His taking away refers to removal of His restraint from Satan, thereby effectively granting him authority “to make war with the saints and to overcome them (Revelation 13:7).”
2:3/ 2:8a – And then the man of sin (lawlessness) shall be revealed. This is the Antichrist!
The Antichrist
2 Thessalonians 2:4
He has / will have a unique view of himself. He will claim to be God, will seek worship, and will receive global worship (Revelation 13:8)!
2 Thessalonians 2:9
He has / will have power to perform signs / miracles!
2 Thessalonians 2:9
His power has / will have a unique origin : Satan!
2 Thessalonians 2:8
His time is limited: the Lord will ultimately consume him in the lake of fire (Revelation 20:10)!
2 Thessalonians 2:4
Where will the Antichrist most likely be revealed?
The temple! The Greek root word — ναός (nah-os’) — means “to dwell” and thus this word typically refers to the sanctuary or a holy dwelling place [1]. In the New Testament ναός is used to refer to the literal, physical, temple of God in Jerusalem (John 2:20), as well as to the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 3:16-17).
Knowing that Paul wrote his epistles prior to 70 A.D., the year in which the temple in Jerusalem was destroyed by the Romans, this leaves us with at least four possible interpretations of Paul’s writing:
1) The Antichrist was revealed prior to the destruction of the temple in 70 A.D. This seems highly unlikely, as many events detailed in Scripture revolving around the Antichrist and his coming, such as Revelation 13, have not yet happened on the world stage.
2) The temple in Jerusalem will be rebuilt. This seems plausible, in particular in light of the fact that there are several groups, such as The Temple Institute, who are actively pursuing the rebuilding of the temple [2].
3) The Antichrist is a “nominally Christian” leader who has emerged or will emerge from the church. This also seems plausible.
4) Paul was wrong. But I completed disregard this option (2 Timothy 3:16-17)!
Application
How should Christians apply this understanding of 1 John 2:18? Watch! Stay sober! Comfort and edify one another! Preach the word! Evangelize! Pray for the return of Jesus! As it is written:
“But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him. Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing (1 Thessalonians 5:1-11).”
“I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry (2 Timothy 4:1-5).”
“He who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely I am coming quickly.’ Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus (Revelation 22:20)!”
References
[1] http://interlinearbible.org/1_john/2-18.htm
[2] http://www.templeinstitute.org/
