1 John 2:18-29
John is sending out a warning. He is warning his “children” of The Antichrist to come as well as the many antichrists who have already come. An antichrist is just what it says someone who is ANTI Christ. The Antichrist, or an antichrist will stand for everything that is opposite of Jesus. Hmmm does that make you pause? I hear many people talking about what is going on in the world today as the last days, and it may be. However, we have no idea how long the last days may last. The thing that we as Christians are to know is that antichrists will always be among us which is why we have to hang so close to Jesus that these antichrists will not affect our every day walks.
“But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge. 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.” 1 John 2:20-21
All christians have anointing of Jesus. We often think that only those who preach and those who are in vocational ministry are anointed but when you are a Christian and you have the Holy Spirit living inside of you, therefore you have an anointing from Him. You have the capacity to grasp the knowledge of Him, you know the truth, therefore, you can recognize the lie. Anyone who denies Jesus is a liar and is an antichrist. Antichrists have been around since Jesus was crucified. We are not to live in fear of them, nor are we to be surprised that they are here now nor are we to look expectantly for them. But we are to be aware that they exist. And the awareness that the spirit of antichrist is here should push us and give us more of an urgency to study the scriptures.
“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. And this is the promise that he made to us – eternal life.” 1 John 2:24-25
There will always be antichrists, there will always be those around who are trying to deceive us. In 1 Peter 5:8 Peter had reminded us that we have an adversary who is prowling and seeking someone to devour. But we have Christ in us, who is the hope of glory. We shouldn’t cower in fear but continue to abide in Christ so that we will have the anointing from Him so as to walk daily with Him.
“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.” 1 John 2:27
As his anointing teaches us and we see truth and we gain knowledge of Jesus, we learn more and more how to abide in him. And when we are abiding in him, we need not live in fear nor should we just stand around gazing into the clouds awaiting His return. But we should live in confidence that one day He is coming.
Is this the last days? Maybe, I’m not smart enough to know. But I do know that God’s word tells us that no one will know. So I don’t really think that we are to try to predict the when, the where, the why or the how. We are simply to live, to abide in Him so that we will be ready when that day comes.
“And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming.” 1 John 2:28
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