The Last Hour
Notes
Transcript
The Last hour
The Last hour
18 Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour.
“God has warned the church family (little children) about the conflict between light and darkness (1 John 1:1-2:6) and between love and hatred (1 John 2:7-17). Now He warns them about a third conflict: The conflict between truth and error. It is not enough for a believer to walk in the light and to walk in love; he must also walk in truth. The issue is truth or consequences!” - Warren Wearsbi
We see there is a sense of urgency between the two words: “Last hour” and “Antichrist”. These terms make known that Christians are living in a fading world and in an hour of crisis. We must guard against the errors of the enemy.
So why did Christ not return during John’s lifetime? God is not limited by time the way we are. He is above time (2 Peter 3:8).
This idea of the “Last hour” began in John’s day but has only been intensifying every step of the way. Since we are living in crisis days, it is extremely important you know what you believe and why you believe it.
The second term “Antichrist” is used in the Bible only by John ( 1 John 2:18, 22; 4:3; 2 John 7).
He describes it as three things:
A spirit in the world that opposes Christ
False teachers who embody this spirit
A person who will head up the final world rebellion against Christ.
The spirit of Antichrist (1 John 4:3) has been in the world since Genesis 3 when satan declared war on God.
This spirit is in the world today ( 2 Thess 2:1-12)
He is called the man of lawlessness.
A great warning to the Church! 1 Timothy 4:1
But even when he was betrayed on that same night, He took bread!
23 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread;
24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”
25 In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”
26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.
27 Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.
28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup.
29 For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.
30 For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep.
31 For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged.
32 But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.
33 Therefore, my brethren, when you come together to eat, wait for one another.
26 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.”
27 Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you.
28 For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
29 But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom.”
30 And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.