The Antichrists In The Last Hour Series

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.