1 JohnEverlasting Mercy Fellowship

1st John 2:18-27

1st John 2:18-27 18 Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that

antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour. 19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us. 20 But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge. 21 I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth. 22 Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son. 23 No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also. 24 Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father. 25 And this is the promise that he made to us— eternal life. 26 I write these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you. 27 But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie—just as it has taught you, abide in him.

Who is the antichrist?

Other Antichrist’s throughout history

Throughout human history, many men have had the dubious honor of being considered candidates for the position of Antichrist. Among the candidates are: Emperor Nero Napoleon Hitler Stalin Henry Kissinger Mikhail Gorbachev Ronald Wilson Reagan William Jefferson Clinton Bill Gates The Pope

Exegesis: Who vs. What?

The focus of much of the world and the church has been in who is the Antichrist with little to no attention paid to the topic of what is an antichrist.

The Apostle John acknowledges the conversation of the day but focuses his epistle on the topic of what. Likewise, we too will look at what as opposed to who. By studying this way, we remain in context with scripture.

Verse by Verse Exegesis

Verse 18 – hours and days are not always used as a literal measure of time in scripture. They instead are often used to mark an age ie. Matthew uses similar language.

Matthew 24:34-37 34 Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass

away until all these things take place. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. 36 "But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. 37 For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.

Verse 19 – Let’s examine the phrase… “From us but not of us…”

Verse by Verse Exegesis

Verse 20 – We are all anointed but for what? We all have knowledge but of what?

1st Peter 2:4-5 4As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men

but in the sight of God chosen and precious, 5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 13:15–16 15 Through him then let us continually offer up a

sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. 16 Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.

Acts 4:32 32Now the full number of those who believed were of

one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common.

Verse by Verse Exegesis

Verse 21 – Truth vs. Lies Verse 22 – Antichrists deny Christ’s deity;

they also deny God as Father Verse 23 – The Father and Son are 1. The

trinity is not 3 individuals but 1 collective. Verse 24 – We don’t just yank our own

interpretation and teaching from the air but we instead observe a tradition – a lineage that can be trusted traced back to God who gave us His son.

Verse 25 – Jesus promised us eternal life John 16:33-John 17:3 33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may

have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.“1 When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, "Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, 2 since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. 3 And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.

Verse by Verse Exegesis

Verse 25 – Jesus promised us eternal life. See John 16:33-John 17:3

John 16:33-John 17:3 33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may

have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.“1 When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, "Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, 2 since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. 3 And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.

Verse 26-27 – You know already and have no need of additional teaching.

Verse by Verse Exegesis

Verse 25 – Jesus promised us eternal life. See John 16:33-John 17:3

John 16:33-John 17:3 33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may

have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.“1 When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, "Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, 2 since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. 3 And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.

Verse 26-27 – You know already and have no need of additional teaching. Is John contradicting his Apostolic authority? Is he saying we don’t need Pastors? Preachers? Leadership of any kind? No. John meant 2 things…

The guide: The Holy Spirit

John was reinforcing the teaching of Christ in John 16:13-14

John 16:13-14 13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you

into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 14

He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.

John was also invalidating and attacking a group of heretics called the Gnostics.

John vs. Basilides, Saturninus and Valentinus

The Gnostics

The Gnostics were in essence the “Old School” New Age Movement. They believed that they were called to teach “the secret things of God”. The “secret things” included the belief in All taught that the body was something to flee from

and served only as an entrapment for the human soul.

Some taught abstinence from foods and sex; others taught indulgence. None taught balance and holiness.

Duality meaning that God was both good and evil. Emanation meaning that the Jewish God was but a

weaker God in a long line of divine creatures which included Jesus who they claimed had not body or footprints and the serpent in the garden which was an emanation as well.