1 John 2:18,19 - It is the last hour

2:18

Why does John say “this is the last hour”, when that was 1900 years ago? The coming of Christ, the cross and resurrection, the ascension and sending of the Holy Spirit ushered in a new era. We are now in the final phase of human history before Christ returns. John is the only New Testament writer to use the term “antichrist”, though the concept can be found in 2 Thessalonians, and in Revelation. There will be precursors to the antichrist, the “many antichrists” referred to here by John, are examples of this. They are not the antichrist, but they have antichrist like features. So the battle demonstrates that it is indeed the last hour.

2:19

The antichrists had been part of the church, but they were not really Christians, for they left the church. Now this does not mean that a person must never leave a particular church (though if someone never stays anywhere, they are either not a Christian or need to get their act together). Someone who is genuinely saved will remain in the church. This does not mean we are saved by persevering, but that persevering is a sign or a fruit of our being saved. This verse gives support to the notion of the invisible and the visible church. Not everyone who calls themselves a Christian is a Christian, we cannot “self-identify” as Christians. Rather we are chosen by Christ, adopted as children by the Father, filled with the Holy Spirit.