Living in the Last times 1 John 2:18-23

Introduction

It is amazing to me that some 2000 years ago they believed that they were living in the last days and they lived with that in mind. We would be crazy to live in 2024 and not believe that Jesus could be returning at any moment to take his church out of here, and we would be crazier to not live like that could happen any moment. As believers we should live as though Jesus was coming back this very moment.

I’m reminded of Matthew 24:40–44 “Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.”

Here in 1 John 2:18-23, John is going to remind the believers of this truth.

verse 18

Little children, it is the last time:

John truly believed they were living in the last times and he was going to give them some reasons to why he believed that

Look what Peter tells us in 1 Peter 4:7 “But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.”

Paul gave a glimpse what would happen in the last days in 2 Timothy 3:1 “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.”

We should live as though we are living in the last days

and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come

The antichrist is going to appear on the earth after the rapture of the church

2 Thess 2:6-8 “And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:”

The antichrist has many names he is referred to in the Bible

In the book of Daniel, the antichrist is referred to as “little horn”

He is known as “the man of sin” and “the son of perdition” as well as the wicked one

2 Thessalonians 2:3 “Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;”

2 Thessalonians 2:8 “And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:”

In the book of revelation he is often referred to as “the beast”

Rev. 13:1-10.

Rev 17:3-18.

even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.

antichrist - any persons who deny Christ or oppose the fundamental doctrines of christianity.

It is amazing how many people have a hatred toward Christ and the things of Christ, but it is a sign of the last times.

The bible tells us there is going to be a great falling away in the last days and we are seeing that

We must be sober and vigilant so that we are not deceived by those who oppose God and want to keep us from following him.

Verse 19

They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.”

Henry Morris said this “Those who once professed to believe in Christ and the doctrines of Christianity, but then renounced the faith, and began to manifest the spirit of antichrist, are thereby proved never to have had a true saving faith in Christ at all. All who truly believe and are saved will continue in the faith forever.”

There is a difference between a backslider and as the bible would call them an apostate

When you dig deep enough into a backslider you will find Christ. Backsliders are never happy in their wayward conditions and are often restored.

When you dig in to an apostate, you find the devil who delights in their disdain for Christ and his work.

I imagine as John is writing this he is thinking back to Judas at the Lord’s supper.

There was Judas sitting with the blood money in his pocket still pretending like nothing was wrong, but Jesus knew what he was doing.

Jesus tells them that one of them would betray him, and we find John laying on Jesus’ chest and John asks him who would betray him and Jesus tells him the one whom I give the sop too. This would have been a special honor at a banquet for a host to give a coveted portion to one of the guests.

Jesus appealed to Judas Conscience in John 13:18–21 “I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me. Now I tell you before it come, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am he. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me. When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.”

And then Jesus spoke to the heart of Judas in John 13:26 “Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon.”

After Judas eats the sop Satan entered into him and Jesus tells him what he’s doing to do it quickly

Only Jesus can measure the darkness of an apostates heart

Matthew 6:23 “But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!”

Verse 20

But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things

the word unction means anointing

One commentary says this “It is the maxim of Bible study that “God is his own interpreter” that is, the bible is self contained and self explainitary. Thus we need not go outside of the Bible to understand the Bible — for God gives us the unction of the Spirit. The anointing of the Spirit is the birthright of every child of God and it is the Holy Spirit who unlocks for us the Wonders of the word.”

I remember in Bible College they would tell us over and over “the best commentary on the Bible is the Bible.

Everything we need to know is in the Bible and we should pray like the Psalmist in Psalm 119:18 “Open thou mine eyes, That I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.”

We don’t need an extra book for God to teach us something for the scripture

The Bible is an amazing book, that you could read thousands of times and getting something different every time. It is like a well of water that never runs dry.

Verse 21

I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth.

John used a lot of repetition in his teaching

Paul wrote this to the church at Philippi

Philippians 3:1 “Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe.”

Peter wrote this

2 Peter 1:12–15 “Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth. Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance; Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me. Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance.”

There is safety in repeating truths that we have already learned. Repetition is a great teacher, and we need to learn the truths of God’s word

John gives them a great truth “no lie is the truth”

The most dangerous lie is that which is closer to the truth

The way we keep from getting deceived is by studying the truth

People who look for counterfeit bills don’t study fake money, they are so familiar with the real thing they can spot a fake. thats how we should be with the word of God

Verse 22

Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.

The greatest lie we could ever do is deny Christ as the Son of God

The antichrist denies the father and the son

Verse 23

You can’t deny the Son and have the father.

You can’t acknowledge the Son and not have the father