The False One(s!)
The presence of false teachers in the church demonstrates that we are in the last days, and the last hour is almost upon us. In his first epistle, John declares it is the last hour, a period elsewhere called the “last days.” As evidence of this, he points to the false teachers that are disrupting his churches. They are products and instruments of the “Spirit of Antichrist” that is active already in the world. And these same deceivers are forerunners of the final “Antichrist” who is yet to come.
The idea that the church is in the “last
days” occurs multiple times in the New Testament. This period is the final
stage of history that commenced with the death, resurrection, and exaltation of
Jesus of Nazareth, and the outpouring of the Spirit on the Day of Pentecost.
- (1 John 2:18-22) – “Little children! It is the last hour. And just as you heard that an antichrist is coming, even now, many antichrists have come, whereby we perceive that it is the last hour… Who is THE FALSE ONE, save he that denies that Jesus is the Christ? The same is the Antichrist, he that denies the Father and the Son.”
MANY DECEIVERS
To substantiate his claim, John points to
the very deceivers that are peddling their lies in his congregations. Jesus
himself warned his followers that “many deceivers” and “false
prophets” would come and “deceive many,” including the “very
elect.”
Thus, the activity of false teachers in the church becomes irrefutable evidence
that the final period of this fallen age is now underway. And it will end
inevitably with the return of the “Son of Man on the clouds” when he
gathers and vindicates his “elect,” but also judges and destroys his
enemies - (Matthew 24:4-5, 25:31-46, Mark 13:5-6, Luke 21:8, 1
Timothy 4:1, 2 Timothy 3:1).
John calls these deceivers “antichrists,” and he uses the plural
number when doing so. They are not proponents of pagan religious ideas from outside
the church, but false teachers propagating false doctrines in it (“They went
out from among us”). And, in this case, they are identifiable by their
denial “that Jesus is the Christ.”
John confirms that a final “Antichrist”
is coming, though he provides almost no information about this figure. But by
applying the terms “antichrists” and the “spirit of Antichrist”
to these false teachers, he associates them with this end-time figure. Like the
final incarnation of the “Antichrist,” the false teachers disrupting the
church of God are also “FALSE ONES”; that is, liars.
In his letter, John does not directly connect
the activities of the false teachers with any expected final events or “signs
of the times.” His immediate concern is the present damage being inflicted on the
church, though their very presence demonstrates that the “last days” are
underway - (1 John 4:1-3).
His second epistle is more personal and
quite brief. It does not discuss the return of Jesus, but its key concern is
the dissension in the church that is being sown by false teachers, especially
their denial of the genuine humanity
of the Nazarene. And once more, their destructive efforts in the church show that
the “last days” are underway - (2 John 7-8).
ABIDE IN JESUS
And, as before, John links these deceivers to
the coming “Antichrist.” His reference to “many deceivers” echoes
the words of Jesus in his discourse on the Mount of Olives, especially the
warning about coming deceivers:
- (Matthew 24:4-5, 11-13, 23-25) – “And answering, Jesus said to them: Beware lest anyone deceive you; for many will come upon my name, saying: I am the Christ, and will deceive many… And many false prophets will arise and deceive many… For there will arise false Christs and false prophets, and they will show great signs and wonders; to deceive, if possible, even the elect.”
Considering the present conflicts in the
church, as well as what is coming, believers must “abide” in Jesus so
that “when he is manifested, we may have boldness and not be shamed
away from him at his arrival” - (1 John 2:28–3:3).
John’s call to “abide in him” is a summons
to holy living – “purifying oneself” - especially considering the future
arrival of Jesus and the rewards that he will bring with him.
By “abiding” in him, the disciple prepares for the final day and immunizes himself from the wiles of the Devil and his earthly agents, in this case, false teachers - the many “antichrists” already running rampant in the church.
And in the passage, the Greek term rendered
“manifested” translates the verb phaneroō - “manifest,
appear, make known, become visible.” The Apostle Peter applies the
same verb to the coming of Jesus in his first letter, as does Paul when writing
to the Colossians - (1 Peter 5:2-4, Colossians 3:4).
HIS ARRIVAL
“Arrival” in verse 28 translates
the Greek noun ‘parousia’.
It denotes the actual arrival of someone. This is the only instance in his
letters where John uses the term. It occurs in Matthew’s version of the ‘Olivet
Discourse’ when Jesus applies it to his future “arrival” - (Matthew 24:3, 24:27, 24:37-39).
The world does not understand Jesus, and therefore,
it does not understand those who belong to him. For now, his disciples look no
different than other human beings, though their conduct may strike many as
nonconformist, even subversive.
But despite appearances, believers are the “children
of God.” And when Jesus is “manifested,” they will be transformed and
appear for all to see “like him,” and they will see him “just as he
is.” Those with this hope “purify themselves” in preparation for
that day - (1 John 3:1, Hebrews 9:28).
Regardless of how far along we are “in
the last days,” the return of Jesus is certain. The apostle’s concern is
with how believers live in the interim between the present and the return of
Jesus. And the very fact that “many antichrists” are present means that sooner
or later the ultimate and final Antichrist will appear before the period known
as the “lasts days” reaches its conclusion.
