18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. 19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us. (1 John 2:18-19 KJV)
Warning Concerning Antichrists
Here is a moral prognostication of the time; the end is coming: Little children, it is the last time (1 John 2:18). Some may suppose that the apostle here addresses the younger Christians, who are more easily led astray, and therefore, “Little children, you that are young in religion, take heed to yourselves that you be not corrupted.” But it may be, as elsewhere, a universal appellation, serving as an alarm to all Christians: “Little children, it is the last time.”
Our Jewish polity in church and state is hastening to an end; the Mosaic institution and discipline are just about to vanish; Daniel’s weeks are expiring; the destruction of the Hebrew city and sanctuary is approaching, the end of which must be with a flood, and to the end of the war desolations are determined (Daniel 9:26). It is right that the disciples should be warned of the haste and end of time and made aware, as much as possible, of the prophetic periods of time.
The sign of this last time is that even now there are many antichrists (1 John 2:18), many who oppose the person, doctrine, and kingdom of Christ. It is a mysterious part of providence that antichrists should be permitted, but once they have appeared, it is good and safe for the disciples to be informed about them; ministers should be watchmen to the house of Israel. It should be no great offense or discouragement to the disciples that there are such antichrists.
One great antichrist has been foretold: As you have heard that antichrist shall come (1 John 2:18). The church has been informed by divine revelation that there will be a long and fatal adversary to Christ and his church (2 Thessalonians 2:8-10). No wonder, then, that there are many forerunners of the great one: Even now there are many antichrists, for the mystery of iniquity is already at work.
They were also foretold as a sign of this last time: For there shall arise false Christs and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders, insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect (Matthew 24:24). These were the forerunners of the dissolution of the Jewish state, nation, and religion: Whereby we know it is the last time (1 John 2:18). Let the prediction of seducers arising in the Christian world strengthen us against their deception.
Now we are given some account of these seducers or antichrists. More positively, they were once professors of apostolic doctrine: They went out from us (1 John 2:19), possibly from the church of Jerusalem or some of the churches of Judea (Acts 15:1). The purest churches may have their apostates; the apostolic doctrine did not convert all whom it convinced of its truth.
More privately, they were not inwardly such as we are: But they were not of us; they had not from the heart obeyed the form of sound doctrine delivered to them; they were not united with Christ the head.
The reason for concluding that they were not truly of us is their actual defection: For, if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us (1 John 2:19). Had the sacred truth been rooted in their hearts, it would have held them with us; had they received the anointing from above, they would not have turned antichrists. Those who fall away from religion show that they were hypocrites before. Those who have received the spirit of gospel truth have a strong defense against destructive error.
They are permitted to depart from apostolic doctrine and fellowship so that their insincerity may be exposed: They went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us (1 John 2:19). The church does not always know who its true members are; thus, the church as internally sanctified may be called invisible. Some hypocrites must be exposed for their own shame and possible restoration, if they have not sinned unto death, and for the warning and caution of others. You therefore, beloved, seeing you know these things before, beware lest you also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness. But grow in grace… (2 Peter 3:17-18).