[Biblemat] A) THE ANTICHRIST IS COMING

[J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com]

Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here.  A very good Monday
morning to each and everyone.  May God bless you and yours.
Here is an article from my files:

THE ANTICHRIST IS COMING

     "Little children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard
that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have
come, by which we know that it is the last hour."  (see 1 Jno.
2:18-23).

     Christians in the day of John had heard of the Antichrist
and his coming.  John addresses this matter in 1 Jno. 2:18-23
4:1-6; 2 Jno. 7.  Let's consider; who are said to be the Anti-
christ(s), how these brethren had heard about the Antichrists
(s) coming, what is the "last hour," and how does one over-
come the Antichrist(s)?

     The Antichrist(s): John is the only apostle that uses the
terms "Antichrist and Antichrists" (1 Jno. 2:18,22; 4:3; 2 Jno.
7).  He also uses equivalent terms like "liar," "one who denies
false prophets," "every spirit that does not confess," "deceiv-
er" and "deceivers" in the above passages of Scripture.

     Antichrist(s) defined: "They went out from us, but they 
were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have
continued with us; but they went out that they might be made
manifest, that none of them were of us...Who is a liar but he
who denies that Jesus is the Christ?  He is antichrist who de-
nies the Father and the Son" (1 Jno. 4:1-3).  Antichrist(s) are
those who are not of God adn do not confess that Jesus has
come in the flesh.  They stand against God!

     How had these brethren heard about the Antichrist(s) com-
ing?  Jesus spoke of them coming when He prophesied of the
fall of the Temple and of Jerusalem (Matt. 24:5,11,23-25; Mk.
13:21-23).  Paul wrote of his coming (2 Thes. 2:1-5,9-12).  He
also made reference to how they would deceive (2 Cor. 11:13-
15).

     What is the "last hour?"  John writes that it is the last hour because 
the Antichrists have come (1 Jno. 2:18).  The
"last hour" is being used in the same way that the Hebrew
writer uses the "last days" (Heb. 1:2).  Jesus calls the gospel
age the "hour" when the dead will hear the voice of the Son
of God and live (Matt. 5:25).  The "last hour" means the final
period of time has come.

     How are we to overcome the Antichrist(s)?  The Holy Spirit
had come and anointed Christians with the truth (1 Jno. 2:20,
21; 26,27).  We are to test every spirit with the truth of God's
Word (1 Jno. 4:1).  We are given a promise of power that will
help us overcome the Antichrist(s): "You are of God, little
children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you
is greater than he who is in the world" (1 Jno. 4:4).  -------------
Ron Drumm.   </HTML>
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