Series: 1 John
Week: Nine
Passage: 1 John 2:18-23
Title: The Antichrists in the Last Hour
Focus: Deception
Last Week in Review
Week 8 – (1) Do not love the World (2) Do not Desire the World
INTRODUCTION: “It is startling to think that Satan can actually come into the heart of a man in such close touch with Jesus as Judas was. And more he is cunningly trying to do it today. Yet he can get in only through a door opened from the inside. Every man controls the door of his own life. Satan can't get in without our help.” S.D. Gordon
VERSE: “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. 19They 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. 20 But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge. 21I 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. 23No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also.” 1 John 2:18-23
TITLE:
POINT #1: Recognition of the Antichrists (1 John 2:18-19)
• Explanation: John had an awareness and passion for the end times (see Revelation). After he warns his audience about following the world he now directs their attention to these people called “antichrists”.
o “Antichrist” means that which is against or in opposition to Christ. The actual word “antichrist” is only used by John in the entire Bible (shall come/many - 1 John 2:18; denies the father and the Son - 1 John 2:22; Spirit - 1 John 4:22; Deceiver - 2 John 1:7)
• Antichrist the person: The name “antichrist” has been applied to the “little horn” of the “king of fierce countenance” (Dan. 7:24, 25; 8:23-25) referring to a king who would rise to power to oppose God’s authority. This antichrist would oppress God’s saints, abolish laws, and institute a new system that appears friendly to Israel. He will be the “beast from the sea” in Revelation (Revelation 13:1; 17:1-18)
• The “Anti-Christ” (singular) seems to indicate a supernatural being and not an bodily person (as pointed out above)
• Antichrist the people: The word “antichrist” has also been given to name those “false Christ’s” Jesus spoke about (Matthew 24:5,23, and 24). Paul stated that these “men of sin” were deceivers (2Th 2:3,4,8-10) and adversaries to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
• Many Anti-Christs – (plural) the human incarnation/representatives of “the Anti-Christ” (singular
• Illustration: 10 contrasts between Christ and the antichrist
o Christ came from above. Antichrist will ascend from the pit.
o Christ came in His Father’s name. Antichrist will come in his own name
o Christ humbled Himself. Antichrist will exalt himself.
o Christ was despised. Antichrist will be admired.
o Christ will be exalted. Antichrist will be cast down to hell.
o Christ came to do His Father’s will. Antichrist will do his own will.
o Christ came to save. Antichrist will come to destroy.
o Christ is the Good Shepherd. Antichrist is the evil shepherd.
o Christ is the “true vine”. Antichrist is the “vine of the earth”.
o Christ is the “truth”. Antichrist is the “lie”.
• Application: What we need to understand is that has been and always will be opposition to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Antichrist as well as antichrists (false teachers) are extremely worldly and can be recognized if our eyes are trained to identify them. We apply John’s teaching to us in two ways so that we can recognize those that are against Christ (what John is talking about.
o They (antichrists) have “gone out” from us: also translated “they separated” from us: John says that these “antichrists” “went out from us” meaning that these people had split from the apostolic churches of Jerusalem and Judea and were now threatening Christian churches claiming the origin of the Gospel. John was quick to state that they had no connection with these teachers.
• Today: Catholic Church, Mormon church, Jehovah Witnesses, etc.
o They (antichrists) are “not of us”: John emphasis here that these men (antichrists/false teachers) did not really share the spirit and perspective of the apostles. In other words there is a divide over doctrine (apostolic instruction – enlightened by the Holy Spirit). Meaning the person who submits to God through Jesus believers that the same Holy Spirit who breathed the words of the Old Testament, also breathed the Words of the New Testament.
• This is believe in faith that God is sovereign throughout time and is the anchor to recognize and refute heretical teaching.
• “for if they were from us…”: John gives a word of assurance to those still a part of the community. The separation is by those who do not see fit to “remain” (Greek – “me-men-ay¬-case-on”) within the biblical structure of the community. This is a proof that these people were NEVER truly members of the faith.
POINT #2: Association with the Antichrists (1 John 2:20-21)
• Explanation: The readers were well equipped to handle the antichrists who opposed Christ. In their arsenal they could easily see if they were in association (agreement) with these false teachers or living in a life that honored God. Here’s how they knew…
o The “antichrists” were not anointed: John’s audience had been “anointing from the Holy One (from God).
• OT: In the OT Persons and things were anointed to signify holiness, or separation unto God. God anointed those (through oil and authority to become holy) because he had favor , place and purpose for these things and people.
• Anointing - Greek = “charisma” – occurs only 3 times in the NT (here and twice in 1 John 2:27) – literally translated, “assignment”
• NT: In the NT the anointing (saved/saints) is done by the Holy Spirit (lifegiver) to “teaches” how one have fellowship with God and remain different in the world.
• the believers are tasked with a specific assignment Matt. 28:19 and although the anti-Christs pose as ones of equal, or greater standing, as Christ himself it is the believer is anointed by the “Holy One”
o The “antichrists” were without knowledge:
• OT: In the OT to know God was to recognize him as a sovereign God who demands man’s obedience (Israel – Covenant Relationship). God’s holiness and kindness are “known” in the experiences of nations and individuals throughout the text. In the OT knowledge is obedience and to not obey God is to willfully turn away from God (1 Sa. 2:12; 3:7; 2 Ch. 33:13; Is. 1:3; Je. 8:7; 24:7; 31:34).
• NT: Remember, both Paul and John wrote against knowledge made popular by cults and philosophy of their day because they opposed the Gospel (1 Tim. 6:20; Col. 2:8). Paul (particularly in 1 Corinthians and Colossians) and John’s writings stress that knowledge of God comes from Christ, which complete that which was known in the OT.
o The “antichrists” were liars: A lie is a statement of what is known to be false with intent to deceive (Jdg. 16:10, 13). John stressed that the liar is one who denies Jesus is God and deceives God’s people into believing Jesus is not the Christ (completion).
• Illustration:
• Application: John’s message to us is the same is was to his audience in biblical times. His command was that the people were well equipped to speak truthfully into those that opposed Christ because of the anointing they had received, the knowledge from Christ that they had obtained, and the truth that was in them.
o “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.” John 17:17
o “In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.” Ephesians 1:13-14
o “Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.” 1 John 3:18
CONCLUSION: John ends with a great question for his audience to contemplate as they ponder the recognition and association of the antichrists. He asks, “Who is the liar?” The liar is the one who denies the Father and the Son. One cannot have the Father without the Son. To reject One is to reject the Other. When John uses the word confess ( “admit”, or “declare”) meaning that the only means to the Father is through the Son (John 14:6) – to deny the son is to deny access to Father – to admit and declare that the Son is the Messiah is to open access to the Father and admit and declare that He is GOD.
The Gospel.
Translation
18. Little ones, it is the last hour and just as you heard that the antichrist has come and now many antichrists has been made known, by which we know it is the last hour.
19. They went out from us, but they were not of us. For if they were of us they would have remained with us, but [they went out] that it would be shown they were not all of us.
20. And you have an anointing from the Holy One and you all have knowledge.
21. I did not write to you because you do not know the truth but because you know it and because every lie is not from truth.
22. Who is the liar but the one denying that Jesus is the Christ. This is the antichrist, the one denying the Father and the Son.
23. Everyone denying the Son does not have the father, the one who confesses the Son also has the Father.
Exegesis
18.
little ones – “paidia” – direct address of audience shows a shift to a new thought. John has finished his basic argument that “God is light” and the Christian call to love. This section (2:18-3:8) is a call to abide (a word that occurs 8 times in the verses of this section). The phrase is also a reminder that John has a personal stake in the Spiritual welfare of his audience.
last hour –
Only use of the phrase “the last hour” in the NT
John writes of 3 “hours”
1. The hour when Jesus laid down his life for salvation of His people (John 2:4, 7:30, 8:20, 12:23 and 27, 13:1, 16:32, 17:1)
2. The hour when Jesus confirmed to the apostles the meaning of his life and ministry through the Holy Spirit (John 16:2, 4, and 25)
3. The hour Christ appears (1 John 2:28) and the final judgment takes place (John 4:21 and 23, 5:25 and 28)
The final hour is upon the believer because as Jesus taught the disciples to expect false prophets and false christs (Matt 24:11, 24) which John points out is now occurring. The imminence of the hour is not in its conclusion, but its occurrence.
the anti-Christ – seems to indicate a supernatural being and not an bodily person
many antichrists – the human incarnations/representatives of “the anti-Christ” (singular)
Polycarp presents threefold description of such persons:
1. For everyone who shall not confess Jesus Christ is come in the flesh (1 John 4:2-3)
2. Whosoever shall not confess the testimony of the cross is of the devil
3. Whosoever shall pervert the oracles (prophecies) of the Lord to his own lusts and say that there is neither resurrection nor judgment, that man is the firstborn of Satan.
19.
they went out from us – John’s focus is “from us” (due to the Greek word order), he points to a group of people/individuals who were at one time part of the believers community but have abandoned the faith and now exist in sharp distinction from those in the Church (universal).
the emphasis on “from us” reflects John’s conviction that the audience remain loyal to the Church “we” (see: 1 John 1:1-5)
they went out (from us) – can also be translated “they separated” (from us)
but are not of us – the separation of those who went out is due to the fact that in one or more way they are not, fundamentally, a truly a part of it. He does not go into extensive explanations as to what these differences are but merely that there is a distinctive difference in faith and practice.
for if they were of us... – John gives a word of assurance to those still a part of the community. The separation is by those who do not see fit to “remain” (Greek – “me-men-ay¬-case-an”) within the biblical structure of the community. This is a proof that these people were NEVER truly members of the faith.
20.
anointing – Greek = “charisma” – occurs only 3 times in the NT (here and twice in 1 John 2:27) – literally translated, “assignment” – in the OT the term is used as a verb to reflect the appointment to the priesthood or a prophet by special call of GOD himself - the believers are tasked with a specific assignment Matt. 28:19 and although the anti-Christs pose as ones of equal, or greater standing, as Christ himself it is the believer is anointed by the “Holy One”
Holy One – in the OT the “Holy One” refers to GOD himself (Ps 71:22; Hab. 1:12, 3:3) and is often linked directly to the preposition “of Israel” (over 30x in OT, mostly in Isaiah) – in the NT this can refer to GOD, Christ, or the Holy Spirit, as has been discussed earlier in our study John uses these terms interchangeably due to the Trinitarian nature of the three persons of GOD.
The anointing of the believer by GOD can draw the connection to Ps. 105:15, “touch not my anointed ones; do my prophets no harm” as an encouragement to those who REMAIN or ABIDE in the faith.
21.
every lie is not from the truth – also translated “no lie comes from the truth” – John is stressing that the origin of a lie is never the truth, a lie originates in those “who are not of us” (not a part of the community of believers)
22.
liar – John’s mention of lies in v21 now prompts an explanation as to who is propagating the lie, it is the “liar” – while lying is discouraged for logical and moral reasons, John now connects it with theological error, “to deny Jesus is the Christ”
denying the Father and the son – to deny one, “Jesus Christ” (22a) is to deny the entirety of GOD – the truth (v21) is to recognize and confess (v23) the Godhead and the entirety of the Holy Scriptures – do deny either is to deny all truth
23.
confess – lit. “confess”, “admit”, or “declare”
confesses the Son also has the Father – the only means to the Father is through the Son (John 14:6) – to deny the son is to deny access to Father – to admit and declare that the Son is the Messiah is to open access to the Father and admit and declare that He is GOD
