Sermon Tone Analysis

18 “Little children, it is the last time...”

18 “Little children, it is the last time…”

as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists;

From the time Jesus ascended back to Heaven, believers have watched for His return.

Each generation has believed they would live to see His coming in the clouds, just as we believe that Jesus could, and very well may return today!

Jesus said to John in the book of the Revelation, “Surely, I come quickly.”

To which John replied, “Amen.

Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”

This phrase “the last time” or “the last days” is how the apostles referred to the period of time between the ascension and the return of Christ.

This period has now stretched on for over 2,000 years.

Knowing that Jesus is coming soon is a great motivator for us to live holy lives .

The Lord wants us to keep His return in mind.

He wants us to live in light of eternity with the awareness that He could appear at any moment.

This remembrance helps to keep us focused on our purpose in life - reaching others with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

This remembrance helps to keep us focused on our purpose in life - reaching others with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

While many believers have thought that they would live to see the Lord’s return, some of the apostles realized that they personally would not.

Peter wrote about his impending death.

There was a rumor that John would not die before the Lord returned, but this was a misunderstanding of Jesus’ words in

.

If back then it seemed that they were living in the day of the Lord’s return, how much closer are we today to that wonderful event!!!

If back then it seemed that they were living in the day of the Lord’s return, how much closer are we today to that wonderful event!!!

Paul said at the end of his life,

If back then it seemed that they were living in the day of the Lord’s return, how much closer are we today to that wonderful event!!!

Do you love and long for the return of the Lord?

Are you excited for His return?

Our text continues,

“… and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists;”

Antichrist is a topic that has brought a lot of interest and intrigue throughout history.

Who is he?

What is antichrist all about?

Let’s talk about that.

Opposition to Truth

anti- : against

It is no mystery that there are many who are extremely vocal about their opposition to Jesus Christ.

There are many who reject Him outright.

They are against anything that mentions or even resembles something lifting up Jesus.

Scripture tells us

One day, after the rapture of the church, there will be a man who will be devoted to, led by, and empowered by Satan.

This man will become the leader of the world.

The Bible calls him the Man of sin, that Wicked one, or more commonly - Antichrist.

He is the rider of the white horse in .

He is called the Beast in the book of Revelation.

He will oppose all that is godly.

At one point, he will sit down in the temple of God which will be built in Jerusalem and declare that he is God.

Child of God, don’t fear that you will be here during that time!

Scripture plainly tells us

We are promised that the Holy Spirit will abide with us forever.

He is “He who now letteth” who will be taken out of the way.

When He is taken out of the way, we go as well!

While the world waits on this Antichrist to come, there are many antichrists in the world today opposing God and the people of God.

They are against God.

Our text says, “… even now are there many antichrists;”

There are many who are against Christ.

Our world system is opposed to Christ.

It is only natural for human beings born in sin to oppose Christ.

Jesus said,

Many organizations actively oppose the teachings of God’s Word and seek to stifle the light of truth from shining.

These, along with others, will seek to shut down the propagation of the Gospel and the ministry of the Word of God.

Our text says, “… even now are there many antichrists;”

God loves everyone and wants everyone to come to Him in faith, repenting of their sin.

However, He does not love what everyone does.

Because pride, lust, lying, stealing, self-righteousness, envy, fornication, unforgiveness, homosexuality, and many other activities of mankind are called sin by God in His Word, there are groups who actively seek through lawsuits and legislation to turn of the Light that exposes their sin.

There are other religions that stand in opposition to Jesus Christ.

Many have been deceived by religion.

Many have been duped by doctrine that makes sense to our human minds.

However, doctrine that is not in agreement with the Word of God is false doctrine.

There are other religions that stand in opposition to Jesus Christ.

Organizations like the ACLU, Planned Parenthood, Freedom from Religion Foundation, and others actively oppose the teachings of God’s Word and seek to stifle the light of truth from shining.

These deceitful teachers, these false prophets can typically be detected by their teaching about Jesus Christ.

Is He God.

Is He the Son of God?

Is He eternal?

Is He sinless.

Did He really die?

Did He rise bodily?

There are other religions that stand in opposition to Jesus Christ.

We must remember though, the real enemy is not human beings!

Islam

says that Jesus was a good prophet but certainly not God nor the son of God.

However, the Bible states very clearly

Mormons

say that Jesus was a man who was good enough to earn favor with his father and thus acquired the status of deity.

However, the Bible plainly reveals that

Jehovah’s Witnesses

Seventh Day Adventists

say that Jesus is the same as the archangel Michael - a created being and not the eternally existing God and son of God that the Bible claims Him to be.

However, God says,

We must remember though, the real enemy is not human beings!

We must remember though, the real enemy is not human beings!

John Adams, the second President of the United States said,

There is an enemy who is anti-Christ.

He attacks and battles against us.

Just remember, he is defeated!

There are those who, under the cloke of religion, engaged in practices contrary to Scripture, but because others did not know any better, it was believed that Christians had committed such atrocities.

“Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious People.

It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”

- John Adams, to the Massachusetts Militia, October 11, 1798.

(https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Adams/99-02-02-3102)

Col

There are those who, under the cloke of religion, engaged in practices contrary to Scripture, but because Christians were blamed and others did not know any better, it was believed that Christians had committed such atrocities.

John Adams, to the Massachusetts Militia, October 11, 1798.