1 John 2v18-24

18 Infants (could be generic term like little children), last hour is and according as yous Ahear-a that the antichrist MDorPDcomes, and now many antichrists have Abecome, by which we Aknow1 that last hour is.

There are two possible ways to translate ἐσχάτη ὥρα ἐστίν:

  1. Last hour is
  2. It is last hour
  • Translating the phrase as ‘last hour is’ opens up the possibility that John could be speaking of something yet future from the first century rather than ‘last hour’ being or starting in the first century;
  • There is no definite article ‘the’ like in many translations;
  • There is also a variant reading of ‘the antichrist’ versus ‘antichrist.’

What are the possibilities for the meaning of ‘last hour’?

  1. A literal hour;
  2. Future: 1 hour is equal to 1,260 days, 42 months or 3.5 years:
    • Rev 3v10, Rev 12v6 & Rev 13v5;
  3. Last hour could be a time of trial/persecution of 42 months in John’s day;
  4. Hour is used of death e.g. Jesus’ ‘hour is at hand’ (Mat 26v55) or ‘the hour might pass from Him’ (Mark 14v35).

Antichrist

  • Only John uses the term antichrist;
  • Antichrist meaning:
    • Against Christ;
    • In place of Christ.
  • Future Antichrist – Rev 13v5
    • Beast = kingdom but also a king;
    • Antichrist given authority for 42 months.
  • Read Rev 17v7-11
    • The final antichrist is the 8th but is out of the 7th;
    • It would appear the 7th is the one that makes a covenant with many in Daniel 9;
    • The 6th main antichrist was in John’s day when he wrote Revelation and the first 5 main antichrists lived prior to John writing Revelation.

It is difficult to conclude what exactly John meant by this verse.  A literal hour is highly unlikely and does not make much sense.  The verse may be multilayered i.e. applicable to John’s readers in his day but also applicable for the future.  This may depend on whether the original read ‘the antichrist’ or simply ‘antichrist.’  ‘Last hour’ could mean a period of 42 months in John’s day or in the future or it could be speaking of death.  Many of the Roman Emperors persecuted the Christians to the point of death and it is possible that many of them were the first 6 antichrists spoken of in Rev 17v7-11. 

19 They (many antichrists) Ago out-2a of us, but they were not out of us, for if they were out of us they might have Aabided with us, but that they might Pmanifest-a, that all are not out of us.

  • These many antichrists were not out of John and the apostles;
  • Were they believers? Are they now against Christ?  Are they apostates?
  • It is possible to deny Jesus after redemption;
  • Peter denied Jesus even though he was a redeemed man;
  • If we deny Him, He also will deny us (2 Tim 2v12);
  • Some of these antichrists may have been false believers and some may have been true believers but are now apostates.

20 And yous Ahave anointing from the holy one and have Aknown3 all.

  • Holy one – Jesus;
  • Anointing – gift of the Holy Spirit.  Look more in depth at the end of Ch2;
  • Known all?
    • knowledge of these antichrists (previous verse);
    • or the truth (next verse)?
  • To know who is an antichrist you need to know the truth and if you know the truth you will be able to know who is an antichrist.

21 I Awrite-a not to yous because yous have not Aknown3 the truth but because yous have known3 it, and because any lie is not out of the truth.

John is telling his readers that they have knowledge of the truth.

22 Who is the liar, if not the one MDorPDdenying that Jesus is not the Christ?  This is the antichrist, the one MDorPDdenying the father and the son.

3 negatives in the Greek and as 2 negatives would make a positive, this could read: Who is the liar?  The one denying that Jesus is the Christ.

  • ‘The liar’ appears to be a title given to ‘the antichrist;’
  • The antichrist is the one denying the Father and the Son but anyone denying the Father and the Son is an antichrist.
  • Read John 20v31;
  • Gospel of John was written that people would believe that Jesus was the Christ – the anointed one who would save His people, the Jews;
  • This is the truth!
  • However, this saving was extended to the Gentiles;
  • What do you and I believe about Jesus?  Is He the Christ?
  • Believing that Jesus of Nazareth is the Christ – that He is the one who is able to save you from sin by His death and resurrection is the foundation of Christianity.

23 Every(the)one MDorPDdenying the son, neither Ahas the father.  The one Aconfessing the son Ahas the father also.

  • Jesus is not only the Christ but also God;
  • If you confess Jesus the Son, you have the Father also;
  • One God yet three persons.

24 Yous therefore, that which yous Ahear-a from beginning, let it Aabide in yous.  If in yous (might) Aabide-a that which yous Ahear-a from beginning, yous also will Aabide in the son and in the father.

  • Again, what is the ‘that’ like in the 1st verse;
  • Many commentators think it is the word which we are to let abide in us but that is incorrect in this verse;
  • ‘That’ is neuter, ‘word’ in Greek is masculine;
  • Therefore we are looking for a neuter noun that we are to let abide in us;
  • John has already told us in verse 10 – ‘the light’ which is neuter;
  • It so happens that this neuter noun is the same as verse 1 and should be no surprise as this whole section is the contrast between light and darkness;
  • It was the light which they hear-a from beginning;
  • If yous abide in the light, yous will also abide in the Father and the Son.