1 John 2:18 KJV
[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.
John wants the “little children” to be aware of both the time in which they are living, and the dangers of the time in which they are living. This is good for all believers, but the strong and mature should already be aware of these facts. Our text shows us the value of discipleship in the lives of young Christians. We must make them aware of what we are facing, so they can grow and withstand the false teachings around them.
John gives them both a past warning and a present warning in this verse. He reminds them that they have heard that the antichrist will come. He also reminds them that there are many antichrists, or false teachers, surrounding them at that moment. Twice he emphasized that “it is the last time”. New Testament believers were looking for Jesus to come in their lifetimes. They were quick to mark all of those who were “antichrist”. They were not “the Antichrist”, but they were those who taught against Christ and his teachings.
If John was warning young believers in his day, how much more should we be warning believers in our day? If the early church believers were aware that it was the last time, how much more should we be aware of this truth? The difference is, they were looking for Christ to come, when today, many believers are not. The truth of this text is that time is quickly running out. Everything that was true in this verse then, is one thousand times truer today! Time was running out in John’s day. False teachers and doctrines were warring against believers in the New Testament times. Think about this verse now. All of this proves that the sands in the hour glass of time are about gone. Time is running out!