1 John 2:18
Verse
Context
Beware of Antichrists
17The world is passing away, along with its desires; but whoever does the will of God remains forever.18Children, it is the last hour; and just as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have appeared. This is how we know it is the last hour.19They went out from us, but they did not belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us. But their departure made it clear that none of them belonged to us.
Sermons
Paris Reidhead
J. Glyn OwenParis Reidhead
Zac Poonen
From the Pulpit & Classic SermonsSummary
Commentary
- Adam Clarke
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Matthew Henry
- Tyndale
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
Little children, it is the last time - This place is variously understood. This is the last dispensation of grace and mercy to mankind; the present age is the conclusion of the Jewish state, as the temple and holy city are shortly to be destroyed. But as there are many who suppose that this epistle was written after the destruction of Jerusalem, consequently the words cannot, on that supposition, refer to this. Others think that εσχατη ὡρα should be translated, a most difficult, perilous, and wretched time; a time in which all kinds of vices, heresies, and pollutions shall have their full reign; that time which out Lord predicted, Mat 7:15, when he said, Beware of false prophets. And Mat 24:11, Mat 24:12 : Many false prophets shall arise, and shall deceive many; and because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. And Mat 24:24 : There shall arise false Christs and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders. And Mat 24:25 : Behold, I have told you before. Now the apostle may allude to these predictions of our Lord; but all these refer to a time antecedent to the destruction of Jerusalem. I am therefore inclined to think, whatever may be here the precise meaning of the last time, that the epistle before us was written while Jerusalem yet stood. See what is said in the preface on this head. Antichrist shall come - Who is this αντιχριστος antichrist? Is he the Emperor Domitian, the Gnostics, Nicolaitans, Nazareans, Cerinthians, Romish pontiffs, etc., etc.! Ans. Any person, thing, doctrine, system of religion, polity, etc., which is opposed to Christ, and to the spirit and spread of his Gospel, is antichrist. We need not look for this imaginary being in any of the above exclusively. Even Protestantism may have its antichrist as well as Popery. Every man who opposes the spirit of the Gospel, and every teacher and writer who endeavors to lower the Gospel standard to the spirit and taste of the world, is a genuine antichrist, no matter where or among whom he is found. The heresies which sprang up in the days of St. John were the antichrist of that time. As there has been a succession of oppositions to Christianity in its spirit and spread through every age since its promulgation in the world, so there has been a succession of antichrists. We may bring this matter much lower; every enemy of Christ, every one who opposes his reign in the world, in others, or in himself, is an antichrist; and consequently every wicked man is an antichrist. But the name has been generally applied to whatever person or thing systematically opposes Christ and his religion. Many antichrists - Many false prophets, false Messiahs, heretics, and corrupters of the truth. Whereby we know that it is the last time - That time which our Lord has predicted, and of which he has warned us.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
Little children--same Greek as Jo1 2:13; children in age. After the fathers and young men were gone, "the last time" with its "many Antichrists" was about to come suddenly on the children. "In this last hour we all even still live" [BENGEL]. Each successive age has had in it some of the signs of "the last time" which precedes Christ's coming, in order to keep the Church in continual waiting for the Lord. The connection with Jo1 2:15-17 is: There are coming those seducers who are of the world (Jo1 4:5), and would tempt you to go out from us (Jo1 2:19) and deny Christ (Jo1 2:22). as ye have heard--from the apostles, preachers of the Gospel (for example, Th2 2:3-10; and in the region of Ephesus, Act 20:29-30). shall come--Greek, "cometh," namely, out of his own place. Antichrist is interpreted in two ways: a false Christ (Mat 24:5, Mat 24:24), literally, "instead of Christ"; or an adversary of Christ, literally, "against Christ." As John never uses pseudo-Christ, or "false Christ," for Antichrist, it is plain he means an adversary of Christ, claiming to himself what belongs to Christ, and wishing to substitute himself for Christ as the supreme object of worship. He denies the Son, not merely, like the pope, acts in the name of the Son, Th2 2:4, "Who opposeth himself (Greek, " ANTI-keimenos") [to] all that is called God," decides this. For God's great truth, "God is man," he would substitute his own lie, "man is God" [TRENCH]. are there--Greek, "there have begun to be"; there have arisen. These "many Antichrists" answer to "the spirit of lawlessness (Greek) doth already work." The Antichristian principle appeared then, as now, in evil men and evil teachings and writings; but still "THE Antichrist" means a hostile person, even as "THE Christ" is a personal Saviour. As "cometh" is used of Christ, so here of Antichrist, the embodiment in his own person of all the Antichristian features and spirit of those "many Antichrists" which have been, and are, his forerunners. John uses the singular of him. No other New Testament writer uses the term. He probably answers to "the little horn having the eyes of a man, and speaking great things" (Dan 7:8, Dan 7:20); "the man of sin, son of perdition" (Th2 2:3); "the beast ascending out of the bottomless pit" (Rev 11:7; Rev 17:8), or rather, "the false prophet," the same as "the second beast coming up out of the earth" (Rev 13:11-18; Rev 16:13).
John Gill Bible Commentary
Little children, it is the last time,.... Or hour; not of the Jewish civil and church state, for that had been at an end for some time; this epistle was written some years after the destruction of Jerusalem; nor the last hour of the Gospel dispensation, or world to come, for this was but the first age of that; and much less the last hour of time, or of the present world itself, for that has been many hundreds of years since; but the last hour of the apostolic age. All the apostles were now dead, John was the last of them; perilous times were now coming on, impostors and heretics were rising apace, against which the apostle cautions his little children; and so still he writes to them, agreeably to their age and character, who, being such, were most likely to be imposed upon by those who lie in wait to deceive. And as ye have heard that antichrist shall come; or "is coming"; and begins to show himself in the false teachers and deceivers, who were his forerunners; and this they had heard and understood, either from the words of Christ in Joh 5:43; or from the account the Apostle Paul gave to the Thessalonians concerning him, Th2 2:3; or rather it may be from what, the apostle had said to the elders of the church at Ephesus, where the Apostle John now was, when he met them at Miletus, Act 20:29, even now there are many antichrists. The Syriac and Ethiopic versions read, "false Christs"; but such are not intended here, that set up for Messiahs, whom Christ foretold should arise before the destruction of Jerusalem, Mat 24:24; for that was now over, and those false Christs had arisen and were gone: if this sense could be admitted, Bar Cocab, in Adrian's time, bids fair to be the false Christ, or Messiah, in the preceding clause, as the same versions there read; but such as were adversaries of Christ, as the Arabic version renders it, are meant, who set themselves against Christ, and were opposers of his person, incarnation, and office; who either denied that he was the Christ, or that he was come in the flesh, the truth of his incarnation, or his proper deity, or real humanity, such as Ebion, Cerinthus, and others. The apostle might well say there were many, since in his time were the followers of Simon Magus, the Menandrians, Saturnilians, Basilidians, Nicolaites, Gnostics, Carpocratians, Cerinthians, Ebionites, and Nazarenes, as reckoned up by Epiphanius. And hence we learn, that antichrist is not one single individual, but many; antichrist in the former clause is explained by antichrists in this; see Jo1 2:22; and though the popes of Rome are, by way of eminence, the antichrist that should come, and which those deceivers were the forerunners of, and paved the way for; yet they are not the only antichrists, there were others before them, and there are many now besides them. Whereby we know that it is the last time; the pure apostolic age was now going off, with the doctrines, discipline, and worship of it, which was easy to be discerned by the multitude of antichrists which now appeared; and it may well be thought to be the last time, or near the end of things with us, since almost every heresy is revived among us.
Matthew Henry Bible Commentary
Here is, I. A moral prognostication of the time; the end is coming: Little children, it is the last time, Jo1 2:18. Some may suppose that the apostle here addresses the first rank of Christians again; the juniors are most apt to be seduced, and therefore, "Little children, you that are young in religion, take heed to yourselves that you be not corrupted." But it may be, as elsewhere, a universal appellation, introductive of an alarm to all Christians: "Little children, it is the last time; our Jewish polity in church and state is hastening to an end; the Mosaic institution and discipline are just upon vanishing away; Daniel's weeks are now expiring; the destruction of the Hebrew city and sanctuary is approaching, the end whereof must be with a flood, and to the end of the war desolations are determined," Dan 9:26. It is meet that the disciples should be warned of the haste and end of time, and apprised as much as may be of the prophetic periods of time. II. The sign of this last time: Even now there are many antichrists (Jo1 2:18), many that oppose the person, doctrine, and kingdom of Christ. It is a mysterious portion of providence that antichrists should be permitted; but, when they have come, it is good and safe that the disciples should be informed of them; ministers should be watchmen to the house of Israel. Now it should be no great offence nor prejudice to the disciples that there are such antichrists: 1. One great one has been foretold: As you have heard that antichrist shall come, Jo1 2:18. The generality of the church have been informed by divine revelation that there must be a long and fatal adversary to Christ and his church, Th2 2:8-10. No wonder then that there are many harbingers and forerunners of the great one: Even now there are many antichrists, the mystery of iniquity already worketh. 2. They were foretold also as the sign of this last time. For there shall arise false Christs and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders, insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect, Mat 24:24. And these were the forerunners of the dissolution of the Jewish state, nation, and religion: Whereby we know it is the last time, Jo1 2:18. Let the prediction that we see there has been of seducers arising in the Christian world fortify us against their seduction. III. Some account of these seducers or antichrists. 1. More positively. They were once entertainers or professors of apostolical doctrine: "They went out from us (Jo1 2:19), from our company and communion;" possibly from the church of Jerusalem, or some of the churches of Judea, as Act 15:1, Certain men came down from Judea, and taught the brethren, etc. The purest churches may have their apostates and revolters; the apostolic doctrine did not convert all whom it convinced of its truth. 2. More privately. "They were not inwardly such as we are: But they were not of us; they had not from the heart obeyed the form of sound doctrine delivered to them; they were not of our union with Christ the head." Then here is, (1.) The reason upon which it is concluded that they were not of us, were not what they pretended, or what we are, and that is their actual defection: "For, if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us (Jo1 2:19); had the sacred truth been rooted in their hearts it would have held them with us; had they had the anointing from above, by which they had been made true and real Christians, they would not have turned antichrists." Those that apostatize from religion sufficiently indicate that, before, they were hypocrites in religion: those who have imbibed the spirit of gospel truth have a good preservative against destructive error. (2.) The reason why they are permitted thus to depart from apostolical doctrine and communion - that their insincerity may be detected: But this was done (or they went out) that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us, Jo1 2:19. The church knows not well who are its vital members and who are not; and therefore the church, considered as internally sanctified, may well be styled invisible. Some of the hypocritical must be manifested here, and that for their own shame and benefit too, in their reduction to the truth, if they have not sinned unto death, and for the terror and caution of others. You therefore, beloved, seeing you know these things before, beware lest you also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. But grow in grace, etc., Pe2 3:17, Pe2 3:18.
Tyndale Open Study Notes
2:18 Antichrist literally means “instead of Christ”; he claims for himself what belongs to Christ and poses as a substitute for Christ (cp. 2 Thes 2:3 and Rev 13:1-10). • many such antichrists have appeared: They are the false teachers who deny that Jesus is the Christ, God’s Son (1 Jn 2:22-23), God in the flesh (4:2; 2 Jn 1:7).
1 John 2:18
Beware of Antichrists
17The world is passing away, along with its desires; but whoever does the will of God remains forever.18Children, it is the last hour; and just as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have appeared. This is how we know it is the last hour.19They went out from us, but they did not belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us. But their departure made it clear that none of them belonged to us.
- Scripture
- Sermons
- Commentary
(So Great a Salvation) Abiding in Christ
By Paris Reidhead21K43:53Abiding1JN 2:18In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of the Word of God as the foundation for our fellowship with the Father and the Son. He acknowledges that many people who profess faith in Christ eventually fall away, and shares a statistic that out of every 200 people who profess faith, only one continues effectively for Christ after a year. The speaker then discusses the defenders and deservers of the faith, highlighting the need to resist seducers, recognize truth, remain faithful, and rejoice in the prospect of Christ's coming. He also references Bible verses that warn of a turning away from Christ in the last days, emphasizing the importance of sound doctrine and resisting false teachings.
(1 John #14) It Is the Last Hour
By J. Glyn Owen4.2K38:53End TimesMAT 24:371JN 2:18In this sermon, the speaker begins by asking the audience to imagine themselves outside of our world, free from the constraints of time and space. He then introduces the concept of the last hour, as proclaimed by the apostle John in the Bible. The speaker explains how John knew it was the last hour and emphasizes the importance of recognizing the signs of the times. Finally, he offers a pastoral exhortation to the saints, urging them to live with earnestness and sobriety in light of the approaching last hour. The sermon references the words of Jesus about the days of Noah and Lot as examples of how people were unaware of the impending judgment. The speaker concludes with a prayer for forgiveness and a call to be agents of God's love in the world.
Abiding in Christ
By Paris Reidhead3.9K43:50Abiding1JN 2:18In this sermon, the speaker addresses the issue of people falling away from their faith in Christ. He mentions that out of every 200 people who profess faith in Jesus Christ, only one continues to follow Him effectively after a year. The speaker also discusses the importance of not letting the traditions or practices of people make the word of God ineffective. The sermon emphasizes the need to abide in the teachings of Christ and warns against being deserters, discerners, deniers, defenders, or deservers. The speaker references biblical passages, such as 1 Timothy 4:1 and 2 Timothy 3:1, to highlight the characteristics of the last times and the turning away from faith.
(Revelation) Revelation 14:13-16:18
By Zac Poonen1.6K1:00:43MAT 19:6JHN 14:151JN 2:181JN 5:3REV 3:21REV 14:1REV 14:12In this sermon, the preacher discusses the importance of both faith in Jesus Christ and obedience to the commandments as essential marks of a New Testament saint. He emphasizes that these two aspects should not be separated, as God has joined them together. The preacher also mentions the concept of overcomers, who are those who have wholeheartedly followed the Lord and overcome the spirit of the Antichrist throughout church history. Finally, the sermon highlights the need for the perseverance of the saints, as mentioned in Revelation 14:12.
False Prophets and the Broad Way - Part 1
By Zac Poonen1.5K09:47MAT 24:10MAT 24:242CO 11:131TI 4:12TI 3:12PE 2:11JN 2:181JN 4:11JN 4:6
This sermon delves into the warning given by Jesus and the apostles about a great falling away before His second coming. It emphasizes the deception that will accompany this falling away, with false prophets leading many astray. The message highlights the need for discernment to distinguish between the genuine and the counterfeit, especially in the face of increasing lawlessness and a cooling of love towards God. The importance of holding onto true faith and avoiding those who only have a form of godliness without its power is underscored.
Evangelists Responsibility to Local Church
By Tony Miano1.1K1:01:09SubmissionACT 6:21TH 5:12HEB 13:7HEB 13:171JN 2:18In this sermon, the speaker addresses the topic of biblical evangelism and the use of the law in sharing the message of Christ. The speaker shares their personal experience of being introduced to biblical evangelism and feeling isolated among their Christian friends and family. They discuss the importance of distributing tracks, engaging in conversations with strangers, and preaching in the open air. The sermon also touches on the biblical concept of speaking in tongues and prophesying, emphasizing the importance of orderly proclamation of God's truth.
So Great a Salvation (Abiding in Christ) - Paris Reidhead
By From the Pulpit & Classic Sermons1.0K44:26Radio1JN 2:18In this sermon, the speaker addresses the lack of emphasis on missions overseas in prophetic messages. They argue that there should not be a strict distinction between Rehman and Logos in scripture. The speaker also highlights the danger of traditions and practices that nullify the Word of God. The sermon then focuses on the evidence of eternal life and the importance of abiding in the teachings of the Word to maintain fellowship with the Father and the Son.
The Spirit of Anti Christ
By Erlo Stegen7751:04:43PRO 2:6MAT 7:151CO 3:182CO 11:141TH 5:212TH 2:3JAS 3:171JN 2:181JN 4:1
This sermon delves into the topic of the Antichrist as mentioned in 2 Thessalonians 2, warning against deception and the spirit of lawlessness already at work. It emphasizes the need for discernment, urging listeners to test all teachings against the truth of the Bible. The story of a woman deceived on a train serves as a cautionary tale, highlighting the importance of seeking wisdom and not blindly following false knowledge. Additionally, it stresses the significance of personal transformation before attempting to influence others, drawing parallels to a priest's realization of starting change from within.
Way Forward
By George Verwer5691:12:05VisionMAT 6:33JHN 14:61JN 2:18In this sermon, the speaker discusses the importance of unity within the Christian community. He emphasizes the need to avoid "friendly fire," which refers to conflicts and divisions within the body of Christ. The speaker encourages the audience to reexamine their doctrinal beliefs and to beware of negative reports that can hinder unity. He also highlights the early emphasis on love and unity in the movement and warns against deception and forces of darkness that seek to divide the body of Christ. The speaker concludes by urging Christians to hold onto the message they heard from the beginning and to trust in Christ's promise of eternal life.
World Domination or Dominion?
By T. Austin-Sparks0Divine DominionAntichrist SpiritZEC 9:10ACT 10:42ACT 17:31ROM 5:14EPH 1:22EPH 2:15PHP 2:52TH 2:31TI 2:51JN 2:18T. Austin-Sparks addresses the contrast between world domination and divine dominion, emphasizing that true dominion is vested in Christ, the Son of Man, while the rise of dictators represents a rival ambition for power. He explores the historical and spiritual implications of this struggle, highlighting the antichrist spirit that seeks to assert human glory over God's authority. Sparks calls for a return to spiritual values, urging believers to focus on the measure of Christ rather than human accolades in ministry. He concludes that the Church, as the body of Christ, is destined to manifest His dominion, free from the influences of antichrist. Ultimately, he emphasizes that true power comes from spiritual maturity and alignment with God's purpose.
1 John 4:3
By John Gill0ChristologyDiscernment in FaithJHN 1:14JHN 14:6ROM 10:9PHP 2:6COL 2:91TI 2:5HEB 4:151JN 2:181JN 4:32JN 1:7John Gill emphasizes the critical importance of acknowledging the true nature of Christ, including His deity, humanity, and roles as Savior and Messiah. He warns that any spirit or doctrine that denies these truths is not from God and is aligned with the spirit of antichrist. Gill highlights that such false teachings are already present in the world, serving as forerunners to the ultimate antichrist. The sermon calls believers to remain steadfast in their faith and understanding of who Jesus is to avoid being led astray by deceptive doctrines.
(New Wine in New Wineskins) 10. Overcoming the Spirit of the Antichrist
By Zac Poonen0Spirit of the AntichristConfronting SinPSA 58:3MAT 5:1MAT 16:3JHN 8:442TH 2:32TI 4:3HEB 1:91JN 2:18REV 13:16Zac Poonen emphasizes the urgency of recognizing the spirit of the Antichrist that has infiltrated Christendom, warning that we are in the final moments before the Antichrist's emergence. He explains that this spirit manifests through casual attitudes towards sin, self-exaltation, and deception, which have become prevalent in many churches today. Poonen urges believers to identify and confront these antichrists within their assemblies, as they were driven out in the early church through strong preaching. He highlights the need for a radical stance against sin and a commitment to truth, as only then can the spirit of the Antichrist be expelled from the church. The sermon calls for a return to the purity and power of the early apostles to combat the current spiritual decline.
The Papal and Hierarchial System - Part 2
By Joseph John Gurney02TH 2:31JN 2:181JN 4:3REV 11:7REV 17:3REV 19:19Joseph John Gurney preaches on the topic of Antichrist, the man of sin, as described in the Bible. The term 'antichrist' is shown to have a general application, representing a spirit among men that rebels against the dominion of the Son of God, invents false doctrine, and corrupts good manners. The apostles warn about the presence of deceivers and antichrists who deny the Father and the Son, spreading false teachings and leading people astray. The Scriptures provide a detailed account of the rise and characteristics of the man of sin, who exalts himself above God, deceives with signs and wonders, and persecutes the saints, culminating in a final battle against the Lord and his faithful followers.
(The Full Gospel) 14. Warnings to the Church for the Last Days
By Zac Poonen0PSA 121:3PRO 26:27DAN 11:31MAT 5:22LUK 16:13ACT 20:29ROM 6:14EPH 6:12HEB 12:31JN 2:18REV 3:19Zac Poonen preaches on the warnings found in Daniel 11:31-35 regarding the spirit of the antichrist infiltrating the church, defiling it with impurity, opposition to holiness, and disregard for God's covenant. He emphasizes the importance of standing firm for holiness, righteousness, and against corruption within the church, even in the face of opposition and persecution. Poonen highlights the need for a Daniel-ministry that leads others to righteousness and warns against a Lucifer-ministry that sows discord, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a daily sacrifice, facing persecution with faith, and trusting God's judgment on those who defile the church.
Exposition on Psalm 114
By St. Augustine0JOS 3:15PSA 113:1JER 2:27MRK 1:10JHN 4:14JHN 10:16ROM 2:281CO 10:112CO 6:14PHP 3:131JN 2:18St. Augustine preaches on the significance of the events in the Bible, such as the crossing of the River Jordan, as both historical accounts and prophetic symbols for future generations. He emphasizes the importance of recognizing ourselves in the stories, understanding that as Christians, we are spiritually connected to Israel and the house of Jacob through faith and grace. Augustine urges believers to renounce the ways of the world, symbolized by Egypt, and to turn towards God, allowing Him to lead us into His promises with divine help and mercy.
1 John 2:18
By John Gill0False TeachingsDiscernmentMAT 24:24ACT 20:292TH 2:31JN 2:181JN 2:22John Gill emphasizes the urgency of the message in 1 John 2:18, addressing the believers as 'little children' and warning them of the perilous times ahead as the apostolic age draws to a close. He explains that many antichrists have emerged, opposing the truth of Christ's incarnation and deity, and cautions the faithful to be vigilant against these deceivers. Gill highlights that the presence of these antichrists is a sign of the last hour, indicating a shift away from the pure teachings of the apostles. He notes that while the ultimate antichrist is yet to come, many have already arisen, leading believers to discern the truth amidst widespread heresy.
Discerning the Signs of the Times - Part Two
By Ian Paisley0DAN 7:8MAT 24:242CO 6:14EPH 5:112TH 2:31TI 4:12PE 2:11JN 2:181JN 4:1REV 11:1Ian Paisley preaches about the potential dangers of the new European Union Constitution, highlighting the threat it poses to the liberties and democratic values that stemmed from the Reformation blessings. He warns of the looming establishment of a final world empire that will engulf nations and erode democracy, leading to an era of anarchy and bondage. Additionally, he addresses the deepening apostasy from the truth of the Bible, emphasizing the spread of false doctrines and the compromising stance of some churches towards sinful practices. Furthermore, Paisley delves into the development of the Antichrist system, drawing parallels between the teachings of Protestant Churches during the Reformation and the current state of the Roman Catholic Church, emphasizing the unchanging nature of Rome's doctrines and its pursuit of unity on its own terms.
With Us-Not of Us
By Theodore Epp0Eternal SecurityDiscernment in Faith1JN 2:18Theodore Epp emphasizes the distinction between true believers and antichrists, explaining that those who depart from the core doctrine of Jesus Christ were never truly part of the faith. He highlights that true Christians possess eternal life, which cannot be taken away, as affirmed by Jesus in John 10:28-30. Epp warns against those who deny the divinity of Christ, asserting that such individuals are deceivers and cannot be considered children of God. The sermon serves as a reminder of the importance of adhering to the fundamental truths of Christianity.
Be Saved From the Spirit of the Antichrist
By Zac Poonen0Spirit of the AntichristSeeking God's HonorISA 14:14LUK 14:261JN 2:18REV 13:4Zac Poonen warns against the spirit of the Antichrist that seeks admiration and worship from others, paralleling it with Satan's desire for worship. He emphasizes that this spirit is prevalent in various spheres, including the church, and manifests as a desire for honor and recognition. Poonen highlights that true followers of Christ will face reproach and opposition, contrasting this with the allure of popularity that leads to the Antichrist's acceptance. He urges believers to recognize and crush the seeds of this spirit within themselves to avoid falling into its trap. Ultimately, he calls for a return to the hard truths of the Gospel that challenge the desire for worldly approval.
2 Peter 3:3
By John Gill0Scoffers in the Last DaysPerseverance in FaithPSA 1:1ISA 2:2MAT 24:111CO 10:111TI 4:1HEB 1:12PE 3:31JN 2:18John Gill emphasizes the prophetic warning in 2 Peter 3:3 about the emergence of scoffers in the last days who mock sin, religion, and the truths of Scripture. These individuals, driven by their own lusts, ridicule the teachings of the Gospel and the promises of God, including the second coming of Christ and the reality of judgment. Gill highlights that such scoffers have been foretold by the apostles and prophets, indicating that their presence is a sign of the times and a reminder of the urgency of faith. He calls believers to remain steadfast in their faith despite the derision they may face from the world. Ultimately, the sermon serves as a call to discernment and perseverance in the face of skepticism.
Defiling the Church With Impurity
By Zac Poonen01JN 2:18Zac Poonen preaches about the warnings in the last days regarding the spirit of the antichrist infiltrating the church, defiling the holy place, and leading believers astray by encouraging a disregard for God's covenant. He emphasizes the importance of standing firm in holiness and righteousness, even in the face of opposition and persecution, as Satan's aim is to corrupt God's sanctuary from within. Poonen urges the church to be vigilant against the forces of the antichrist and to preserve God's standards at any cost, following the example of Jesus in enduring hostility and opposition from those who seek to compromise the truth.
The Delusion of Progress
By Horatius Bonar0True ProgressFalse TeachingsMAT 24:24JHN 3:3ROM 8:71CO 2:14GAL 1:6EPH 2:12TH 2:32TI 3:1JAS 1:171JN 2:18Horatius Bonar warns against the antichristian delusions that have existed since the days of the apostles, where false Christs arise to undermine the true Christ. He emphasizes that throughout history, these antichrists have distorted truth, promoting human intellect and goodness while dismissing the need for divine regeneration. Bonar argues that what humanity often perceives as progress is merely an illusion, as true progress can only be achieved through the Holy Spirit. He calls for discernment in recognizing the difference between worldly advancements and the spiritual growth that God acknowledges. Ultimately, he stresses that without regeneration, humanity cannot attain genuine progress.
First Epistle of John - Introduction
By Arno Clemens Gaebelein0JHN 20:311JN 1:11JN 2:181JN 3:21JN 4:11JN 5:13Arno Clemens Gaebelein delves into the authorship, historical evidence, and purpose of the Epistle of John, emphasizing the strong internal and external testimonies that confirm John the Apostle as the writer. The Epistle, closely related to the Gospel of John, was likely written around 90 A.D. to believers in various assemblies, possibly in Ephesus or the churches in the province of Asia. Its purpose is to bring fullness of joy to believers and to assure them of eternal life in Christ, countering false teachings and exposing antichristian ideologies prevalent even in John's time.
- Adam Clarke
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Matthew Henry
- Tyndale
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
Little children, it is the last time - This place is variously understood. This is the last dispensation of grace and mercy to mankind; the present age is the conclusion of the Jewish state, as the temple and holy city are shortly to be destroyed. But as there are many who suppose that this epistle was written after the destruction of Jerusalem, consequently the words cannot, on that supposition, refer to this. Others think that εσχατη ὡρα should be translated, a most difficult, perilous, and wretched time; a time in which all kinds of vices, heresies, and pollutions shall have their full reign; that time which out Lord predicted, Mat 7:15, when he said, Beware of false prophets. And Mat 24:11, Mat 24:12 : Many false prophets shall arise, and shall deceive many; and because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. And Mat 24:24 : There shall arise false Christs and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders. And Mat 24:25 : Behold, I have told you before. Now the apostle may allude to these predictions of our Lord; but all these refer to a time antecedent to the destruction of Jerusalem. I am therefore inclined to think, whatever may be here the precise meaning of the last time, that the epistle before us was written while Jerusalem yet stood. See what is said in the preface on this head. Antichrist shall come - Who is this αντιχριστος antichrist? Is he the Emperor Domitian, the Gnostics, Nicolaitans, Nazareans, Cerinthians, Romish pontiffs, etc., etc.! Ans. Any person, thing, doctrine, system of religion, polity, etc., which is opposed to Christ, and to the spirit and spread of his Gospel, is antichrist. We need not look for this imaginary being in any of the above exclusively. Even Protestantism may have its antichrist as well as Popery. Every man who opposes the spirit of the Gospel, and every teacher and writer who endeavors to lower the Gospel standard to the spirit and taste of the world, is a genuine antichrist, no matter where or among whom he is found. The heresies which sprang up in the days of St. John were the antichrist of that time. As there has been a succession of oppositions to Christianity in its spirit and spread through every age since its promulgation in the world, so there has been a succession of antichrists. We may bring this matter much lower; every enemy of Christ, every one who opposes his reign in the world, in others, or in himself, is an antichrist; and consequently every wicked man is an antichrist. But the name has been generally applied to whatever person or thing systematically opposes Christ and his religion. Many antichrists - Many false prophets, false Messiahs, heretics, and corrupters of the truth. Whereby we know that it is the last time - That time which our Lord has predicted, and of which he has warned us.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
Little children--same Greek as Jo1 2:13; children in age. After the fathers and young men were gone, "the last time" with its "many Antichrists" was about to come suddenly on the children. "In this last hour we all even still live" [BENGEL]. Each successive age has had in it some of the signs of "the last time" which precedes Christ's coming, in order to keep the Church in continual waiting for the Lord. The connection with Jo1 2:15-17 is: There are coming those seducers who are of the world (Jo1 4:5), and would tempt you to go out from us (Jo1 2:19) and deny Christ (Jo1 2:22). as ye have heard--from the apostles, preachers of the Gospel (for example, Th2 2:3-10; and in the region of Ephesus, Act 20:29-30). shall come--Greek, "cometh," namely, out of his own place. Antichrist is interpreted in two ways: a false Christ (Mat 24:5, Mat 24:24), literally, "instead of Christ"; or an adversary of Christ, literally, "against Christ." As John never uses pseudo-Christ, or "false Christ," for Antichrist, it is plain he means an adversary of Christ, claiming to himself what belongs to Christ, and wishing to substitute himself for Christ as the supreme object of worship. He denies the Son, not merely, like the pope, acts in the name of the Son, Th2 2:4, "Who opposeth himself (Greek, " ANTI-keimenos") [to] all that is called God," decides this. For God's great truth, "God is man," he would substitute his own lie, "man is God" [TRENCH]. are there--Greek, "there have begun to be"; there have arisen. These "many Antichrists" answer to "the spirit of lawlessness (Greek) doth already work." The Antichristian principle appeared then, as now, in evil men and evil teachings and writings; but still "THE Antichrist" means a hostile person, even as "THE Christ" is a personal Saviour. As "cometh" is used of Christ, so here of Antichrist, the embodiment in his own person of all the Antichristian features and spirit of those "many Antichrists" which have been, and are, his forerunners. John uses the singular of him. No other New Testament writer uses the term. He probably answers to "the little horn having the eyes of a man, and speaking great things" (Dan 7:8, Dan 7:20); "the man of sin, son of perdition" (Th2 2:3); "the beast ascending out of the bottomless pit" (Rev 11:7; Rev 17:8), or rather, "the false prophet," the same as "the second beast coming up out of the earth" (Rev 13:11-18; Rev 16:13).
John Gill Bible Commentary
Little children, it is the last time,.... Or hour; not of the Jewish civil and church state, for that had been at an end for some time; this epistle was written some years after the destruction of Jerusalem; nor the last hour of the Gospel dispensation, or world to come, for this was but the first age of that; and much less the last hour of time, or of the present world itself, for that has been many hundreds of years since; but the last hour of the apostolic age. All the apostles were now dead, John was the last of them; perilous times were now coming on, impostors and heretics were rising apace, against which the apostle cautions his little children; and so still he writes to them, agreeably to their age and character, who, being such, were most likely to be imposed upon by those who lie in wait to deceive. And as ye have heard that antichrist shall come; or "is coming"; and begins to show himself in the false teachers and deceivers, who were his forerunners; and this they had heard and understood, either from the words of Christ in Joh 5:43; or from the account the Apostle Paul gave to the Thessalonians concerning him, Th2 2:3; or rather it may be from what, the apostle had said to the elders of the church at Ephesus, where the Apostle John now was, when he met them at Miletus, Act 20:29, even now there are many antichrists. The Syriac and Ethiopic versions read, "false Christs"; but such are not intended here, that set up for Messiahs, whom Christ foretold should arise before the destruction of Jerusalem, Mat 24:24; for that was now over, and those false Christs had arisen and were gone: if this sense could be admitted, Bar Cocab, in Adrian's time, bids fair to be the false Christ, or Messiah, in the preceding clause, as the same versions there read; but such as were adversaries of Christ, as the Arabic version renders it, are meant, who set themselves against Christ, and were opposers of his person, incarnation, and office; who either denied that he was the Christ, or that he was come in the flesh, the truth of his incarnation, or his proper deity, or real humanity, such as Ebion, Cerinthus, and others. The apostle might well say there were many, since in his time were the followers of Simon Magus, the Menandrians, Saturnilians, Basilidians, Nicolaites, Gnostics, Carpocratians, Cerinthians, Ebionites, and Nazarenes, as reckoned up by Epiphanius. And hence we learn, that antichrist is not one single individual, but many; antichrist in the former clause is explained by antichrists in this; see Jo1 2:22; and though the popes of Rome are, by way of eminence, the antichrist that should come, and which those deceivers were the forerunners of, and paved the way for; yet they are not the only antichrists, there were others before them, and there are many now besides them. Whereby we know that it is the last time; the pure apostolic age was now going off, with the doctrines, discipline, and worship of it, which was easy to be discerned by the multitude of antichrists which now appeared; and it may well be thought to be the last time, or near the end of things with us, since almost every heresy is revived among us.
Matthew Henry Bible Commentary
Here is, I. A moral prognostication of the time; the end is coming: Little children, it is the last time, Jo1 2:18. Some may suppose that the apostle here addresses the first rank of Christians again; the juniors are most apt to be seduced, and therefore, "Little children, you that are young in religion, take heed to yourselves that you be not corrupted." But it may be, as elsewhere, a universal appellation, introductive of an alarm to all Christians: "Little children, it is the last time; our Jewish polity in church and state is hastening to an end; the Mosaic institution and discipline are just upon vanishing away; Daniel's weeks are now expiring; the destruction of the Hebrew city and sanctuary is approaching, the end whereof must be with a flood, and to the end of the war desolations are determined," Dan 9:26. It is meet that the disciples should be warned of the haste and end of time, and apprised as much as may be of the prophetic periods of time. II. The sign of this last time: Even now there are many antichrists (Jo1 2:18), many that oppose the person, doctrine, and kingdom of Christ. It is a mysterious portion of providence that antichrists should be permitted; but, when they have come, it is good and safe that the disciples should be informed of them; ministers should be watchmen to the house of Israel. Now it should be no great offence nor prejudice to the disciples that there are such antichrists: 1. One great one has been foretold: As you have heard that antichrist shall come, Jo1 2:18. The generality of the church have been informed by divine revelation that there must be a long and fatal adversary to Christ and his church, Th2 2:8-10. No wonder then that there are many harbingers and forerunners of the great one: Even now there are many antichrists, the mystery of iniquity already worketh. 2. They were foretold also as the sign of this last time. For there shall arise false Christs and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders, insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect, Mat 24:24. And these were the forerunners of the dissolution of the Jewish state, nation, and religion: Whereby we know it is the last time, Jo1 2:18. Let the prediction that we see there has been of seducers arising in the Christian world fortify us against their seduction. III. Some account of these seducers or antichrists. 1. More positively. They were once entertainers or professors of apostolical doctrine: "They went out from us (Jo1 2:19), from our company and communion;" possibly from the church of Jerusalem, or some of the churches of Judea, as Act 15:1, Certain men came down from Judea, and taught the brethren, etc. The purest churches may have their apostates and revolters; the apostolic doctrine did not convert all whom it convinced of its truth. 2. More privately. "They were not inwardly such as we are: But they were not of us; they had not from the heart obeyed the form of sound doctrine delivered to them; they were not of our union with Christ the head." Then here is, (1.) The reason upon which it is concluded that they were not of us, were not what they pretended, or what we are, and that is their actual defection: "For, if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us (Jo1 2:19); had the sacred truth been rooted in their hearts it would have held them with us; had they had the anointing from above, by which they had been made true and real Christians, they would not have turned antichrists." Those that apostatize from religion sufficiently indicate that, before, they were hypocrites in religion: those who have imbibed the spirit of gospel truth have a good preservative against destructive error. (2.) The reason why they are permitted thus to depart from apostolical doctrine and communion - that their insincerity may be detected: But this was done (or they went out) that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us, Jo1 2:19. The church knows not well who are its vital members and who are not; and therefore the church, considered as internally sanctified, may well be styled invisible. Some of the hypocritical must be manifested here, and that for their own shame and benefit too, in their reduction to the truth, if they have not sinned unto death, and for the terror and caution of others. You therefore, beloved, seeing you know these things before, beware lest you also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. But grow in grace, etc., Pe2 3:17, Pe2 3:18.
Tyndale Open Study Notes
2:18 Antichrist literally means “instead of Christ”; he claims for himself what belongs to Christ and poses as a substitute for Christ (cp. 2 Thes 2:3 and Rev 13:1-10). • many such antichrists have appeared: They are the false teachers who deny that Jesus is the Christ, God’s Son (1 Jn 2:22-23), God in the flesh (4:2; 2 Jn 1:7).