Introduction: by Lane Rogers
With a term of endearment (“little children”) that is a favorite of John's he now proceeds to warn them about a problem that was very real in his day. “Little Children” it is the last hour;1and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrist have come,2, but which you know that it is the last hour.”3(1st John 2:18).
John is the only writer of the New Testament who uses the term “antichrist,” and he uses the term five times: Twice in 1st John 2:18 (“antichrist is coming...many Antichrist have come”). Again in 1st John 2:22 (“He is the antichrist who denies...”). Also in 1st John 4:3 (“this is the spirit of the antichrist...”). And again in 2nd John 2:7 (“a deceiver and an antichrist).
The term is commonly used today by many to refer to one individual (“The Antichrist”), who is supposed to appear in the “end times”, some actual person who will rise in the religo-political arena and lead many people astray just before Christ comes again. This is the view held by pre-millenialist as well as some amillenialist.
Actually, John will introduce a very important topic at this point. It is, “How does an individual know what he/she knows.?” How can we be sure about the source of truth and not make ourselves the standard of right and wrong? There are some people doing this very thing (in those congregations) and John is going to raise a voice of protest against such behavior.
The Text Then is : 1st John 2:18-27
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18Little youths, it is the last hour; and even as you heard that the antichrist does come, even now antichrists have become many – by this we know that it is the last hour; 19out of us they went forth, but they were not of us, for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but -- that they might be manifested that they are not all of us. 20And you have an anointing from the Holy One, and have known all [past tense]things; 21 I did not write to you because you have not known the truth, but because you have known it, [past tense]and because no lie is of the truth. 22Who is the liar, except he who is denying that Jesus is the Christ? this one is the antichrist who is denying the Father and the Son; 23every one who is denying the Son, neither hath he the Father, [he who is confessing the Son has the Father also.] 24You, then, that which you heard from the [The anointing was something they “heard” from the beginning] beginning, in you let it remain; if in you may remain that which from the beginning you did hear,[The anointing was something they heard] you also in the Son and in the Father shall remain, 25and this is the promise that He did promise us -- the life the age-during. 26These things I did write to you concerning those leading you astray; 27and you, the anointing that you did receive from him,[The anointing was something they “heard” from Jesus] in you it [The anointing is an “it”]does remain,[The anointing was the Word of God] and you have no need that any one may teach you, but as the same anointing does teach you concerning all, and is true, and is not a lie, and even as was taught you, you shall remain in him. 28And now, little children, remain in him, that when he may be manifested, we may have boldness, and may not be ashamed before him, in his presence; 29if you know that he is righteous, know you that every one doing the righteousness, of him has been begotten. (Young's Literal Translation, 2:18-29) |
Who is the “antichrist” by definition and description.
What “hour” is it that John speaks of in this section?
THE ORIGIN AND SOURCE OF KNOWLEDGE CONCERNING GOD.
A. Warning Concerning the Antichrist!
Identifying the “last hour.”
a. Not the end of the world.
b. It is the end of a certain era.
c. It is a time of transition.
Defining a condition that is being introduced into the history of the church in New Testament times by people John will call antichrist.
a. Pagans began to introduce their philosophies into Christianity. b. The results are not Christian-izing paganism, but paganizing Christianity.
3. To mix pagan doctrines and pagan philosophy with the doctrines of Christianity would result in the end of Christianity. Since these people represent the end of Christianity, they are called the Antichrist.
4. John's use of the word, “hour.
a. John 4:23, But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeks such to worship him. (Explain: the hour of transition from worship in Jerusalem in the Temple was at hand).
b. John 5:25,28....the hour comes and is now. Jesus uses the term “hour” as a period of transition.
c. John 2, Woman, what have I to do with you? My hour has not yet come. When it does come it will be the start of a transition!
5. John's description of the change.
a. People will be preaching that sin does not make a difference.
b. Their knowledge is earth centered and not heaven centered (John 4)
c. The change them is coming with the arrival of the antichrist.
Note: In verse 19 John says the last hour is coming. It will come with antichrist. Already many antichrist have risen. Therefore, we know it is the last hour. So, John was living at the last hour.
B. Identifying the Antichrist.
Several kinds of doctrines being introduced.
a. Different doctrines of immorality.
b. Different attitudes about Christ.
The identity of the Antichrist!
a. They went out from us (they were so-called members of church).
b. They did not really belong to us (just pretenders)
c. Their going away showed that they were never in truth.
d. They claimed to have fellowship with God but were walking in darkness.
e. The claimed to know God but did not keep His commandment.
f. The did not hold to apostolic testimony but invented their own doctrines.
g. They deny the humanity and deity of Christ.
C. THE ANOINTING DEFINED.
A. Confirming the Faith of the Believers.
a. The contrast between them (the Gnostics) and us (the Christians).
b. It is not "you have BEEN anointed" but "you HAVE and anointing." Cf 1st John 2:2 - “We HAVE and advocate. In this contest : We HAVE an anointing.”
Several things the anointing is not!
The anointing of a king.
The anointing of a man who has fallen among thieves by a Samaritan. John 10
The anointing with spit in a blind mans eyes. John 9
The anointing with oil. James 5:16
The anointing of the Holy Spirit (2nd Cor. 1:21-22).
1) This would give those who have the Holy Spirit their own personal hot line to revelation.
2) Those who claim the Holy Spirit as a direct operation never go to to 1st John 2:20 to prove it.
3) The Holy Spirit is not called an IT in verse 27. (cf. John 16:13)
John has not mentioned the Holy Spirit as yet in this letter.
The special gift of knowledge (1st Corinthians 12:4-11).
. The special gift was not something you can hear – it was by the laying on of the apostles hands and was not called an anointing.
b. The special gift was not something you hear from the beginning.
c. The special gift was not given to all Christians.
B. Identifying the Anointing.
It is from the Holy one (v.20)
It gives all knowledge (v.20)
It abides with you (Vs. 24,27)
It teaches you concerning all things (v.27)
Compare this with 2nd Timothy 3:16-17.
C. Important Reasons Why John Writes this Message Down.
To give confirmation of the truth.
To give exposure to error.
To give a permanent location where truth can be discovered (the writings ).
D. Similarity to the Teachings of Peter and Paul (2nd Peter 1:12; 1st Corinthians 15:1-3.
NOTE: Peter says, after I am gone I want you to remember the things that I have been teaching you. I want you to have a source where you can make reference to those things because after I am gone there in not going to be anyone else. Because we are the ones that heard, saw, and touched and lived with Jesus. We are the ones that are guided by inspiration not only to preach these things but also to write them down. And so give permanent attention to them.
E. The Anointing of the Holy One
The “Holy One” is Christ Jesus Himself.
The “Holy One” in the Old Testament as well as in the New Testament was Jesus.
a. Psalm 16:10 - “You will not let your Holy One see corruption.” Jesus is the Holy One.
b. Isaiah 12:6 - “Shout aloud you inhabitants of Zion for great in the midst of thee is the Holy One of Israel.
c. Mark 1:24 – Luke 4:34; John 6;69, Acts 3:14, that latter
passage “You crucified the Holy One of Israel.
Note: They not only deny that He is the Messiah of the Old Testament because they want the God of the OT to be a totally different God.
1. John's use of the word anointing here has not relationship with any other passage dealing with anointing.
2. The anointing which John writes about is the Word of God.
3. The word if in verse 28 has the idea of when. It can be used as a adverb of time.
The Quote from Hipploytus:
a. In a document written by Hippolytus as representing a Gnostic sect known as the Naassenes, we read: We alone of all men are Christians who complete the mystery at the third portal and are anointed there with speechless chrism. (Philosophuma, vol.9, pp. 121-122.)
b. John's style in meeting the Gnostic sect was to defeat their arguments or contentions on their own grounds and using their own terms.
That is: the last hour was when John wrote the letter 2000 years ago.
The Antichrist of 1st John was there during the lifetime of John
The last hour then was during the lifetime of John.
Lane Rogers
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