Book of 1 John Chapter 2 Vs. 18

 Warning Concerning Antichrists

1 John 2:18 "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."

Little children... This, again, is speaking of Christians, when it says, little children. The last time indicates the nearness of the coming of Christ. Jesus warned of this very thing in Mat. 24:24.

Little children (παιδία)

Compare τεκνία little children (1Jhn. 2:1), which emphasizes the idea of kinship, while this word emphasizes the idea of subordination and consequent discipline. Hence it is the more appropriate word when spoken from the stand-point of authority rather than of affection.

the last time...

The last hour (ἐσχάτη ὥρα)

The phrase only here in the New Testament. On John's use of ὥρα hour, as marking a critical season, see John 2:4; 4:21, 4:23; 5:25, 5:28; 7:30; 8:20; 11:23, 11:27; 16:2, 16:4, 16:25, 16:32. The dominant sense of the expression last days, in the New Testament, is that of a period of suffering and struggle preceding a divine victory. See Acts 2:17; Jas. 5:3; 1Pet. 1:20. Hence the phrase here does not refer to the end of the world, but to the period preceding a crisis in the advance of Christ's kingdom, a changeful and troublous period, marked by the appearance of many antichrists.

and as ye... The 2nd New Testament prophecy in 1 John (1Jhn. 2:18, unfulfilled). Next, 1Jhn. 2:28.

antichrist shall come... The Antichrist

Anyone against Christ is antichrist. In this sense there are many (1Jhn. 2:18, 2:22; 4:3; 2Jhn. 1:7), but the one referred to here is yet to come.

Fifteen Titles of the Antichrist:

1. Antichrist (1Jhn. 2:18)

2. The Assyrian (Isa. 10:20-27; 30:18-33; 31:4-32:20; Mic. 5:3-15)

3. The King of Babylon (Isa. 14:4)

4. The Spoiler (Isa. 16:4)

5. The Extortioner (Isa. 16:4)

6. Gog, the Chief Prince of Meshech and Tubal (Eze. 38:2-3)

7. The little horn (Dan. 7:8, 7:24; 8:9, 8:23)

8. King of Fierce Countenance (Dan. 8:23)

9. The Prince that Shall come (Dan. 9:26-27)

10. The King of the north (Dan. 11:5-45)

11. The Man of sin (2Thes. 2:1-12)

12. The Son of perdition (2Thes. 2:1-12)

13. The Wicked (Isa. 11:4)

14. That Wicked (2Thes. 2:8-12)

15. The Beast (Dan. 7:11; Rev. 13:1-18)

Antichrist

Peculiar to John in the New Testament. The absence of the article shows its currency as a proper name. It may mean one who stands against Christ, or one who stands instead of Christ; just as ἀντιστράτηγος may mean either one who stands in the place of a στρατηγός praetor, a propraetor (see Introd. to Luke, vol. 1, p. 246, and see on Acts 16:20), or an opposing general. John never uses the word ψευδόχριστος false Christ (Mat. 24:24; Mark 13:22). While the false Christ is merely a pretender to the Messianic office, the Antichrist assails Christ by proposing to do or to preserve what he did, while denying Him. Antichrist, then, is one who opposes Christ in the guise of Christ. Westcott's remark is very important, that John's sense of Antichrist is determined by the full Christian conception of Christ, and not by the Jewish conception of the promised Savior.

Cometh (ἔρχεται)

The prophetic present, equivalent to is about to come. The same term is used of Christ (John 14:3; 21:22; Rev. 22:20).

In verse 17 John has stated that the present evil order of things is passing away. This leads to his affirmation that it is the last time. Antichrist appears in the whole New Testament only here an in verse 22, 4:3, and 2Jhn. 2:7. He is the ultimate opponent of God, God’s plans and God’s people. (See also 2Thes. 2:1-12; Mark 13:14).

there many antichrists... While the term’s first occurrence refers to a particular person prophesied in Scripture, this one is plural and refers to many individuals. John uses the plural to identify and characterize the false teachers who were troubling John’s congregations because their false doctrine distorted the truth and opposed Christ (Mat. 24:24; Mark 13:22; Acts 20:28-30).

Are there (γεγόνασιν)

Rev., more correctly, have there arisen.

The term, therefore, refers to a principle of evil, incarnated in men, who are hostile and opposed to God (2Cor.10:4-5). John writes to expose the false teachers, the wolves in sheep’s clothing who purvey damning lies (Eph. 5:11). The last time is a phrase referring to the latter times or last days, i.e., the time period between the first and second comings of Christ (1Tim. 4:1; Jas. 5:3; 1Pet. 4:7; 2Pet. 3:3; Jude 18).

Whereby (ὅθεν)

Lit., whence. Only here in John. It is found in Matthew and Luke, and frequently in Hebrews, and not elsewhere.

For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

The appearance of these antichrists is another sign that the coming of Christ is near. The word antichrist just means those who are opposed to Christ.

In the light of the deceptions of the last hour

John’s general warning against the world is now followed by a warning against one of its end-time manifestations. The false teachers who were present were worldly to the core (cf. 1Jhn. 4:5). The readers knew about the predicted advent of the Antichrist and needed to be alerted to the appearance of many who would display his traits of hostility toward God’s Christ. This is a clear indication that history has entered a climactic era: the last hour. Despite the lapse of centuries since John wrote, the climax of all things impends in a special way. The stage has been set for history’s final drama.