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Beware of Antichrists
17The world is passing away, along with its desires; but whoever does the will of God remains forever.18Children,it isthe lasthour;andjust asyou have heardthatthe antichristis coming,sonowmanyantichristshave appeared.This is howwe knowit isthe lasthour.19They went out from us, but they did not belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us. But their departure made it clear that none of them belonged to us.…

Treasury of Scripture

Little children, it is the last time: and as you have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.

Little.

1 John 2:1
My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

John 21:5
Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No.

it is.

2 Timothy 3:1
This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

Hebrews 1:2
Hath in these last days spoken unto us byhis Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

1 Peter 1:5,20
Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time…

ye have.

1 John 4:3
And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is thatspirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

Matthew 24:5,11,24
For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many…

Mark 13:6,21,22
For many shall come in my name, saying, I amChrist; and shall deceive many…

antichrist.

1 John 2:22
Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.

1 John 4:3
And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is thatspirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

2 John 1:7
For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.

whereby.

1 Timothy 4:1
Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

2 Timothy 3:1
This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

AntichristAnti-ChristAppearedArisenChildrenDearEndFinalHeardHourLittleOnceTimeTimesWherebyWordYouthsAntichristAnti-ChristAppearedArisenChildrenDearEndFinalHeardHourLittleOnceTimeTimesWherebyWordYouths1.He comforts them against the sins of infirmity.
3.Rightly to know God is to keep his commandments;
9.to love our brothers;
15.and not to love the world.
18.We must beware of antichrists;
20.from whose deceits the godly are safe, preserved by perseverance in faith, and holiness of life.

Children, it is the last hour;
The term "children" is a term of endearment and spiritual kinship, indicating John's pastoral relationship with his readers. The phrase "the last hour" reflects the eschatological urgency present in the early church. This concept is rooted in the belief that the coming of Christ initiated the final phase of God's redemptive plan. The "last hour" is not a literal 60-minute period but a symbolic expression of the time between Christ's first and second coming. This aligns with other New Testament teachings, such as inHebrews 1:2, which refers to these times as the "last days."

and just as you have heard that the antichrist is coming,
The term "antichrist" is unique to the Johannine epistles, though the concept is present elsewhere in Scripture. The early Christians were aware of the prophecies concerning a future figure opposing Christ, as seen in passages like2 Thessalonians 2:3-4, which describes the "man of lawlessness." The expectation of an antichrist figure was part of the early church's eschatological teaching, reflecting Jewish apocalyptic literature that anticipated a climactic battle between good and evil.

so now many antichrists have appeared.
John identifies not just a singular antichrist but many "antichrists," indicating that the spirit of antichrist was already at work. This refers to individuals or groups who deny the true nature of Christ, as further explained in 1John 2:22. The presence of these antichrists serves as a warning to the church to remain vigilant against false teachings. This aligns with Jesus' warnings inMatthew 24:24 about false prophets and messiahs.

This is how we know it is the last hour.
The emergence of many antichrists is presented as evidence of the "last hour." This reflects the New Testament understanding that the presence of false teachers and opposition to Christ are signs of the end times. The early church lived with the expectation of Christ's imminent return, and the presence of antichrists was a confirmation of the eschatological timeline. This perspective encourages believers to remain steadfast in their faith and discerning of truth, as emphasized throughout the epistle.

1.John the Apostle
The author of the epistle, one of Jesus' original twelve disciples, and a key figure in the early Christian church. He writes with authority and pastoral concern.

2.Children
A term of endearment used by John to address the believers, indicating a close, familial relationship and his role as a spiritual father.

3.Antichrist
A term referring to both a specific future figure opposed to Christ and the spirit of opposition to Christ that manifests in various individuals and teachings.

4.Many Antichrists
Refers to those who embody the spirit of the antichrist by denying Christ and leading others astray, indicating a present and ongoing reality.

5.The Last Hour
A term indicating the eschatological period between Christ's first and second coming, characterized by the presence of false teachers and spiritual deception.Awareness of the Times
Believers should be aware that we are living in the "last hour," a time marked by spiritual deception and opposition to Christ.

Discernment of Spirits
Christians must exercise discernment to identify and reject teachings and influences that are contrary to the truth of Christ.

Vigilance Against Deception
The presence of many antichrists calls for vigilance in maintaining doctrinal purity and faithfulness to the teachings of Jesus.

Encouragement in Community
The term "children" highlights the importance of community and mutual encouragement in standing firm against false teachings.

Hope in Christ's Return
Despite the presence of antichrists, believers can find hope and assurance in the promise of Christ's return and ultimate victory.1.What is the meaning of 1 John 2:18?

2.How does 1 John 2:18 warn us about the "last hour" today?

3.What characteristics identify "many antichrists" mentioned in 1 John 2:18?

4.How can we discern false teachings in light of 1 John 2:18?

5.How does 1 John 2:18 connect with Jesus' warnings in Matthew 24:24?

6.How should believers prepare for the "last hour" according to 1 John 2:18?

7.What does "last hour" mean in 1 John 2:18?

8.Who are the "many antichrists" mentioned in 1 John 2:18?

9.How does 1 John 2:18 relate to the concept of the Antichrist?

10.What are the top 10 Lessons from 1 John 2?

11.In 1 John 2:18, what historical or archaeological evidence exists to support the claim that “many antichrists” had already appeared?

12.Is the Antichrist's sexual orientation homosexual?

13.Was Nero considered the Antichrist?

14.How will encountering the Antichrist feel?Children, it is the last hour

“Children, it is the last hour”. John speaks with the tenderness of a spiritual father, reminding believers that they live in history’s closing chapter.

• The “last hour” began with Christ’s first coming and extends until His return (Hebrews 1:2;1 Peter 4:7).

• Because redemption is complete in Jesus, nothing stands between us and His appearing (Romans 13:11–12).

• The phrase presses us toward urgency—living holy, proclaiming the gospel, and guarding against deception (2 Peter 3:11–12).

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and just as you have heard that the antichrist is coming

John affirms what his readers had already been taught: a singular, climactic Antichrist will rise.

• Scripture foresees this final opponent of Christ and His people (2 Thessalonians 2:3–4;Daniel 7:25;Revelation 13:1–8).

• He will counterfeit Christ’s authority, demand worship, and persecute the saints.

• Knowing this future certainty steels believers to recognize lesser deceptions now.

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so now many antichrists have appeared

Even before the ultimate Antichrist emerges, lesser “antichrists” operate.

• They deny the Father and the Son (1 John 2:22) and refuse to confess Jesus Christ has come in the flesh (1 John 4:3).

• Jesus warned that “many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many” (Matthew 24:5, 24).

• These teachers often arise from within professing circles (Acts 20:29–30), twisting truth while appearing spiritual.

• Their presence tests our discernment and calls the church to cling to sound doctrine (2 Timothy 1:13–14).

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This is how we know it is the last hour

The multiplication of antichrists confirms the time in which we live.

• “In the last days perilous times will come” marked by lovers of self and haters of God (2 Timothy 3:1–5).

• “In later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits” (1 Timothy 4:1).

• Jude echoed John: “In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires” (Jude 18).

• The very opposition that worries us also assures us that God’s timetable is on course.

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summary

John’s single verse sketches a timeline and a test. We live in the “last hour,” awaiting the final Antichrist, yet already surrounded by lesser antichrists. Their rise signals both danger and confirmation that Christ’s return draws near. Stay anchored to Scripture, alert to deception, and eager for His appearing.

Verse 18. -Childrenπαιδία heremust apply toall those addressed in the Epistle; and this helps to fix the meaning in verse 13. It is the last hour. What does this mean? There is scarcely room for doubt. The perishableness of the world has suggested the thought of its end, and St. John goes on to warn his readers that this thought is full of meaning to them; for they may recognize the time in which they are living as the last hour by the many antichrists that have arisen. "The last hour" can only meanthe last hour before the second coming of Christ. Nothing but the unwillingness of Christians to admit that an apostle, and especially the Apostle St. John, could seem to be much in error about the nearness of the day of judgment, could have raised a question about language so plain. All explanations about its signifying the Christian dispensation, or the nearness of St. John's death, or the nearness of the destruction of Jerusalem, must be firmly set aside. How could the rising of antichrists show that the Christian dispensation had begun? It was Christ, not antichrist, that showed that? What had antichrists to do with St. John's death? or with the fall of Jerusalem, which, moreover, had fallen many years before this Epistle was written? Just as the apostles, even after the Resurrection (Acts 1:6), remained grossly ignorant of thenature of Christ's kingdom on earth, so to the last they remained ignorant of itsduration. The primitive Church had not yet found its true perspective, and, in common with all Christians of the first age, the apostles believed that Christ would return soon, possibly within the lifetime of some then living. "Yea, I come quickly" (Revelation 22:20) was by them understood in the most literal sense ofταχύ. But it will not surprise those who remember Christ's very strong declaration (Mark 13:32), to find even an apostle in ignorance as to the time of the second advent of Christ. But it may very reasonably and reverently be asked, What becomes of the inspiration of Scripture if an inspired writer tells the Church that the end of the world is near, when it is not near? The question of inspiration must follow that of interpretation, not lead it. Let us patiently examine the facts, and then try to frame a theory of inspiration that will cover them; not first frame our theory, and then force the facts to agree with it. But the question in its proper place requires an answer. The Old Testament prophets were often guided to utter language the Divine meaning of which they did not themselves understand. They uttered the words in one sense, and the words were true in a far higher sense, of which they scarcely dreamed. The same thing is true of the New Testament prophets, though in a less degree, because the gift of Pentecost had given them powers of insight which their predecessors had not possessed. The present text seems to be an illustration of this truth. We can hardly doubt that, in saying, "it is the last hour," St. John means to imply that within a few years, or possibly even less time, Christ will return to judgment. In this sense the statement is not true. But it may also mean that the last period in the world's history has begun; and in this sense we have good reason for believing that the statement is true. "That one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day" is not rhetoric, but sober fact. By the Divine standard times are measured, not according to their duration, but their importance; it is their meaning, not their extent, which gives them value. What are all the measureless prehistoric aeons of the material universe compared with the time since the creation of rational life? What are the thousands of years covered by the Old Testament compared with the portion of a century covered by the New? The great crisis in the history of the world, constituted by the life and death of Christ, will never be equaled until he comes again. When he ascended to heaven the last hour sounded. There may follow a silence (as it seemed to St. John) about the space of half an hour, but (as human experience may prove) of half a thousand centuries. Yet the duration of the period, as measured by man, will not alter its essential characteristics; it was, is, and will still remain, "the last hour."Even as ye heard (when ye were instructed in the faith)that antichrist cometh (is destined to come). Antichrist in this also is assimilated to the Christ; he isὁ ἐρχόμενος. This was the teaching of the gospel (Matthew 24:5, 11, 23-26;Mark 13:22, 23; comp.Acts 20:29;2 Timothy 3:1;2 Peter 2:1). What does St. John mean byἀντίχριστος? The four passages (1 John 2:18, 22;1 John 4:3;2 John 1:7) in which he uses the term do not enable us to answer the question with certainty. The predominant idea is that ofopposition to Christ, andrivalry of Christ, rather than merely ofcounterfeiting Christ. Ifἀντίχριστος were formed on the analogy ofἀντιβασιλεύς andἀνθύπατος, it would mean "vice-Christ, vicar of Christ." It is, however, analogous toἀντίθεος ἀντιφιλόσοφος and the Greek for a counterfeit Christ isψευδόχριστος (Matthew 24:24). But we are left in doubt whether this rival of Christ is a principle or a person. None of the four passages is decisive. Here we are not sure whether the arising of many antichrists proves that thespirit of antichrist is already in the world, or that by them the way is fully prepared for the onepersonal antichrist. Either the existence of the antichristian character, or the approach of the antichrist, is given as evidence that the day of the Lord is at hand. The latter is the more probable. A great personal opponent to the personal Christ seems to be indicated both by St. John and St. Paul (2 Thessalonians 2:1-8). The Jews expected a personal opponent of the Messiah to precede the Messiah - Armillus, Gog, Antiochus Epiphanes, and the like (Ezekiel 38:39;Daniel 7:25;Daniel 8:25;Daniel 11:36); and Christians from the earliest times have expected a similar prelude to the return of the Messiah. The termἀντίχριστος is absolutely peculiar to St. John in the New Testament. By theἀντίχριστοι πολλοί he probably means those early heretical teachers, who in various ways denied the Incarnation, and were thus forerunners of the antichrist - the Nicolaitanes, Simon Magus, Cerinthus, Diotrephes, Hymenaeus, and Philetus. Besides these there are practical antichrists. "Let us mark, not the tongue but the deeds. For if all be asked, all with one mouth confess that Jesus is the Christ. Let the tongue keep silent awhile: ask the life. If the Scripture itself shall tell us that denial is a thing done not only with the tongue, but also with deeds, then assuredly we find many antichrists if deeds are to be questioned, not only do we find many antichrists gone out, but many not yet manifest, who have not gone out at all" (St. Augustine).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Children,
Παιδία(Paidia)
Noun - Vocative Neuter Plural
Strong's 3813:Neuter diminutive of pais; a childling, i.e., an infant, or a half-grown boy or girl; figuratively, an immature Christian.

it is
ἐστίν(estin)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1510:I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

[the] last
ἐσχάτη(eschatē)
Adjective - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 2078:Last, at the last, finally, till the end. A superlative probably from echo; farthest, final.

hour;
ὥρα(hōra)
Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 5610:Apparently a primary word; an 'hour'.

and
καὶ(kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532:And, even, also, namely.

just as
καθὼς(kathōs)
Adverb
Strong's 2531:According to the manner in which, in the degree that, just as, as. From kata and hos; just as, that.

you have heard
ἠκούσατε(ēkousate)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 191:To hear, listen, comprehend by hearing; pass: is heard, reported. A primary verb; to hear.

that
ὅτι(hoti)
Conjunction
Strong's 3754:Neuter of hostis as conjunction; demonstrative, that; causative, because.

the antichrist
ἀντίχριστος(antichristos)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 500:From anti and Christos; an opponent of the Messiah.

is coming,
ἔρχεται(erchetai)
Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2064:To come, go.

so
καὶ(kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532:And, even, also, namely.

now
νῦν(nyn)
Adverb
Strong's 3568:A primary particle of present time; 'now'; also as noun or adjective present or immediate.

many
πολλοὶ(polloi)
Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 4183:Much, many; often.

antichrists
ἀντίχριστοι(antichristoi)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 500:From anti and Christos; an opponent of the Messiah.

have appeared.
γεγόνασιν(gegonasin)
Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 1096:A prolongation and middle voice form of a primary verb; to cause to be, i.e. to become, used with great latitude.

This is how
ὅθεν(hothen)
Conjunction
Strong's 3606:From hos with the directive enclitic of source; from which place or source or cause.

we know
γινώσκομεν(ginōskomen)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Plural
Strong's 1097:A prolonged form of a primary verb; to 'know' in a great variety of applications and with many implications.

that
ὅτι(hoti)
Conjunction
Strong's 3754:Neuter of hostis as conjunction; demonstrative, that; causative, because.

it is
ἐστίν(estin)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1510:I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

[the] last
ἐσχάτη(eschatē)
Adjective - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 2078:Last, at the last, finally, till the end. A superlative probably from echo; farthest, final.

hour.
ὥρα(hōra)
Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 5610:Apparently a primary word; an 'hour'.


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NT Letters: 1 John 2:18 Little children these are the end times (1J iJ 1Jn i jn 1 jo)