1 John 2:18,19

A Troubling Hour

John told his readers he was writing during a last hour, the definite article not appearing in the original (1 John 2:18). The word hour, or Greek horae, refers to a fixed period of time (John 5:35 "for a season"; 16:2,4; 2 Corinthians 7:8; Philemon 1:15). Jesus spoke of those who would deceive many by saying they were Christ, as well as false prophets who would deceive many (Matthew 24:5; Matthew 24:11). Our Lord gave both of these as signs which would appear before the end of the Jewish order at the destruction of Jerusalem.

If the book of 1 John was written prior to the destruction, John may have been referring to it. If after, Thomas suggests, John refers to the season of anti-Christs, who are spoken of later in the book. Other New Testament verses predicted the coming of an anti-Christ or lawless one (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4; 2 Thessalonians 2:8; Revelation 13:11). John wrote of many who exhibited the spirit that would characterize him. This may well refer to those who denied Christ came in the flesh. Robert Shank well notes concerning 1 John 2:19 that John is specifically writing of the anti-Christs and not making a general statement about all who have believed or ever will believe.

At the time of their withdrawal, they were not of the same obedient spirit as John and the brethren to whom he wrote. It helped the church when they went out because it was easier to see them as false teachers. Those represented as stony ground believers, as well as Hymenaeus and Alexander, would be examples of those who were once in the fold but went out. To be able to go out, one must first be in, which strongly suggests a change (Matthew 13:20-21; 1 Timothy 1:19-20; 2 Peter 2:20-22).