Wake Up and Smell the Coffee! 1 John 2:18-24

The Coming Anti-Christ Vs. 18-19

The Last Hour

A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, 3rd ed. ὥρα

ἐσχάτη ὥρα the last hour in the present age of the world’s existence 1J 2:18ab.

Romans 13:11 NASB95

Do this, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed.

1 Timothy 4:1 NASB95

But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons,

1 Peter 4:7 NASB95

The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer.

The Antichrist

1, 2, 3 John (2) Beware of the Antichrists (2:18–28)

These individuals, as their designation indicates, are against Christ. They hold to a heretical Christology and are deceivers whose false views are put forward to lead believers astray and to oppose Christ. The following verses address their wrong thinking concerning his person.

Matthew 24:5 NASB95

“For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many.

Matthew 24:24 NASB95

“For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect.

2 John 7 NASB95

For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist.

The name Antichrist does not designate a single individual, but a single kingdom, which extends throughout many generations.

John Calvin

Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations 194 Life of the Antichrist

194 Life Of The Antichrist

Briefly sketched, the following are the salient points in the life history of the future Antichrist:

(1) Inconspicuous beginning—Dan. 7:8, 24; Rev. 6:1, 2.

(2) Makes treaty with Jews for Seven Years—Isa. 28:15, 18; Dan. 9:27.

(3) Overcomes some resistance in uniting Europe—Dan. 7:8, 20, 24.

(4) Becomes head of 10-nation European Confederacy—Rev. 13:1; 17:12, 13.

(5) Attacked by Kings of the South and the North, and is killed—Dan. 11:40–43.

(6) His deadly head wound is healed—Rev. 13:1, 12:14.

(7) He becomes world ruler—Rev. 13:7b; 17:9, 11–14, 17, 18; 18:2, 10, 16.

(8) Breaks Jewish treaty and stops temple sacrifices—Dan. 9:27.

(9) Kills the Two Witnesses—Rev. 11:3–7.

(10) Usurps divine worship—2 Thess. 2:4; Matt. 24:15.

(11) Persecuted the Jews—Dan. 7:21–22; Jer. 30:7.

(12) Kills the 144,000 Evangelists—Rev. 14:1–5.

(13) Destroys the World Church—Rev. 17:16–17.

(14) Defeated at Armageddon by Christ—Rev. 17:14; 19:19.

(15) Cast alive into the Lake of Fire—Rev. 19:20; 20:10.

195 Character Of The Antichrist

The personal character of the Antichrist may be described as follows:

(1) High intelligence—Rev. 13:18; Dan. 7:8.

(2) Great speaking ability—Dan. 7:8; Rev. 13:5.

(3) Crafty political talents—Dan. 9:27; Rev. 17:12, 13, 17.

(4) Strong physical appearance—Dan. 7:20.

(5) Military genius—Rev. 13:4; 17:14; 19:19.

(6) Morally, the worse personage

(a) Materialistic—Dan. 11:38

(b) Blasphemer—Rev. 13:6

(c) Against the Law—2 Thess. 2:8

(d) Selfish ambition—Dan. 11:36, 37; 2 Thess. 2:4.

(e) Tries to change prophecy and history—Dan. 7:25

(f) Substitutes self for God—Dan. 11:36; 2 Thess. 2:4.

They Went Out

Acts 20:30 NASB95

and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them.

How can we know?

1 John 4:1 NASB95

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

1 John 4:3 NASB95

and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world.

The Liar and the Antichrist Vs. 20-23

Anointed

2 Corinthians 1:21 NASB95

Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and anointed us is God,

The Holy One - Jesus

Mark 1:23–24 NASB95

Just then there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit; and he cried out, saying, “What business do we have with each other, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!”

Acts 10:38 NASB95

“You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.

Those who Know

2 Peter 1:12 NASB95

Therefore, I will always be ready to remind you of these things, even though you already know them, and have been established in the truth which is present with you.

The Lie

John 8:44 NASB95

“You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

John says there were many antichrists, and yet the teaching is clear that there is going to be an ultimate antichrist, one person, a person having terrible power, able to work miracles and do such wonders that he almost deceives the elect themselves.

Walking with God, 101

David Martyn Lloyd-Jones

Come, Lord, and abide with me. Come, and occupy alone the throne of my heart; reign there without a rival, and consecrate me entirely to thy service.”

Charles Spurgeon

Those Who are trying to Lead Others Astray Vs. 24-26

From the Beginning

1 John 2:7 NASB95

Beloved, I am not writing a new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning; the old commandment is the word which you have heard.

Jeremiah 31:33 NASB95

“But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days,” declares the Lord, “I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.

Luke 22:20 NASB95

And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood.

1 Corinthians 11:25 NASB95

In the same way He took the cup also after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”

You can abide in Jesus

John 14:23 NASB95

Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him.

John 10:30 NASB95

“I and the Father are one.”

Come, Lord, and abide with me. Come, and occupy alone the throne of my heart; reign there without a rival, and consecrate me entirely to thy service.”

Charles Spurgeon