Welcome to the Hope Bible School verse-by-verse Bible study of 1 John. This is Jeff M Newman. Get a new lesson every other week on Mondays at 12:00 PM Pacific.
In Lesson 48, we are going to study the middle part of 1 John 2:18.
Let’s read this part of the verse.
1 John 2:18...and just as you have heard that the antichrist is coming...
Now, let’s take a look at the definition of the words.
And (2532. kai) means even, also, or namely.
Just as (2531. kathos) means according to the manner in which or in the degree that.
You have heard (191. akouó) means to listen, or according to HELPS Word-studies that which prompts God to birth faith within.
The Antichrist (500. antichristos) refers to the one who puts himself in the place of the Messiah or the enemy of the Messiah (Strong’s Concordance).
Is coming (2064. erchomai) means is expected.
This part of the verse is letting the reader know that the Antichrist is coming.
The Antichrist will emerge as a powerful, charismatic world leader right before Christ’s return. The Antichrist will be empowered by Satan and will put himself in the place of Christ, the Messiah. His goal will be to undermine the work of God, deceive people, and turn them away from faith in Christ.
Let’s study some Bible verses that teach us about the Antichrist.
In Daniel 7:7-8, we read about a vision of a beast with ten horns. Then, a little horn comes up from among them. The beast represents an empire, and the horns represent leaders. This beast was terrifying, dreadful, and extremely strong. The little horn foreshadows a future ruler, or the Antichrist, who has eyes like a man and speaks words of arrogance. These are words that convey an attitude of superiority, self-importance, and a lack of regard for others.
Daniel 7:7-8 After this, as I watched in my vision in the night, suddenly a fourth beast appeared, and it was terrifying—dreadful and extremely strong—with large iron teeth. It devoured and crushed; then it trampled underfoot whatever was left. It was different from all the beasts before it, and it had ten horns. 8 While I was contemplating the horns, suddenly another horn, a little one, came up among them, and three of the first horns were uprooted before it. This horn had eyes like those of a man and a mouth that spoke words of arrogance.
In Daniel 7:25, we learn more about the little horn or the foreshadowing of the Antichrist. He will speak blasphemy against the Most High, oppress the saints, and change religious practices in order to disrupt God’s ordained order.
Daniel 7:25 He will speak out against the Most High and oppress the saints of the Most High, intending to change the appointed times and laws; and the saints will be given into his hand for a time, and times, and half a time.
In Daniel 8:11, we see the little horn or the Antichrist, magnify himself and claim divine authority. The Antichrist will violently oppose God. He will remove sacrifices to God and destroys the sanctuary. He will undermine the presence and authority of God.
Daniel 8:11 It even magnified itself to be equal with the Commander of the host; and it removed the regular sacrifice from Him, and the place of His sanctuary was thrown down.
In Daniel 9:27, we read about the Antichrist breaking a covenant he makes with many by putting an end to sacrifice and offering. The Antichrist is a liar. He will also commit an offensive act of desecration in the temple. This act is known as the abomination that causes desolation. Desolation is a feeling of intense loneliness, grief, abandonment, or hopelessness. In this case it is the abandonment of a holy place. This is what the enemy, Satan, wants to do in your life. He wants to desecrate your relationship with God and cause you to abandon the presence of God in your life.
Daniel 9:27 And he will confirm a covenant with many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of the temple will come the abomination that causes desolation, until the decreed destruction is poured out upon him.
In Matthew 24:15-18 we read about Jesus referencing the “abomination of desolation.” He is warning His followers about the Antichrist. He is calling believers to flee and not look back. Jesus wants you to be prepared for what is coming.
Matthew 24:15-18 So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination of desolation,’ described by the prophet Daniel (let the reader understand), 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17 Let no one on the housetop come down to retrieve anything from his house. 18 And let no one in the field return for his cloak.
In Daniel 11:36-39, we read about a powerful, self-exalting ruler that defies God, enforces idolatrous worship, and does what he pleases. This is a foreshadowing of the Antichrist. He will speak blasphemy and show no regard for God. The Antichrist will be extremely controlling. He will use his wealth and military power to give his loyal followers great honor, positions of authority, and land.
Daniel 11:36-39 “Then the king will do as he pleases, and he will exalt and magnify himself above every god and will speak monstrous things against the God of gods; and he will prosper until the indignation is finished, for that which is decreed will be done. 37 “He will show no regard for the gods of his fathers or for the desire of women, nor will he show regard for any other god; for he will magnify himself above them all. 38 “But instead he will honor a god of fortresses, a god whom his fathers did not know; he will honor him with gold, silver, costly stones and treasures. 39 “He will take action against the strongest of fortresses with the help of a foreign god; he will give great honor to those who acknowledge him and will cause them to rule over the many, and will parcel out land for a price.
In Zechariah 11:15-17, we read about the foolish shepherd. This is often interpreted as a representation of the Antichrist. He will be a false leader who will ultimately bring ruin and destruction to the people who follow him. Even though the Antichrist is allowed to have power temporarily, ultimately the Antichrist will be judged and defeated. Remember this when you are experiencing attacks and temptations from the enemy.
Zechariah 11:15-17 And the LORD said to me: “Take up once more the equipment of a foolish shepherd. 16 For behold, I will raise up a shepherd in the land who will neither care for the lost, nor seek the young, nor heal the broken, nor sustain the healthy, but he will devour the flesh of the choice sheep and tear off their hooves. 17 Woe to the worthless shepherd, who deserts the flock! May a sword strike his arm and his right eye! May his arm be completely withered and his right eye utterly blinded!”
In 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4, we read about the man of lawlessness, the son of destruction. This is the Antichrist. He will exalt Himself and proclaim himself to be God. This is a great reminder to be vigilant against the schemes of the enemy that are designed to lead you away from worshipping God.
2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 Let no one deceive you in any way, for it will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness—the son of destruction—is revealed. 4 He will oppose and exalt himself above every so-called god or object of worship. So he will seat himself in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God.
In 2 Thessalonians 2:9-10, we read that the lawless one will derive his power directly from Satan. The lawless one is the Antichrist. With this power, the Antichrist will perform deceptive signs and miracles. His goal is to deceive people and lead them away from God. Stay rooted in God’s Word, so you deeply understand the truth and can see through the lies of the enemy. Don’t refuse the love of the truth, like those who follow the Antichrist.
2 Thessalonians 2:9-10 The coming of the lawless one will be accompanied by the working of Satan, with every kind of power, sign, and false wonder, 10 and with every wicked deception directed against those who are perishing, because they refused the love of the truth that would have saved them.
In Revelation 6:2 and Revelation 13:7, we read that the Antichrist will be allowed to overcome and conquer. He will be permitted to wage war against the saints. This shows us that God will use the Antichrist to test the faith of believers. In Revelation 6:2 the Antichrist is the rider on the white horse and in Revelation 13:7 the Antichrist is the beast.
Revelation 6:2 So I looked and saw a white horse, and its rider held a bow. And he was given a crown, and he rode out to overcome and conquer.
Revelation 13:7 Then the beast was permitted to wage war against the saints and to conquer them, and it was given authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation.
In Daniel 7:11 and Revelation 19:20, we read that the beast, or the Antichrist, will be throne alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur.
Daniel 7:11 Then I kept watching because of the arrogant words the horn was speaking. As I continued to watch, the beast was slain, and its body was destroyed and thrown into the blazing fire.
Revelation 19:20 But the beast was captured along with the false prophet, who on its behalf had performed signs deceiving those who had the mark of the beast and worshiped its image. Both the beast and the false prophet were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur.
In conclusion, the Antichrist will be a powerful, charismatic leader that will arrive before Jesus comes again. He will be under the power of Satan and will perform deceptive signs and miracles.
The Antichrist will speak arrogantly and will speak words of blasphemy against the Most High. He will oppress God’s people by outlawing worship and desecrating and destroying places of worship.
The Antichrist will do whatever he pleases and will exalt himself above God. He will be powerful and will manipulate people to follow him.
The Antichrist will bring ruin and destruction to all who follow him. Ultimately, he will be judged by God and thrown into the lake of fire.
Be continually aware of the evil schemes of Satan to turn you from God. Protect yourself by keeping your eyes on Jesus and abiding in Him.
Let’s read our verse one more time.
1 John 2:18...and just as you have heard that the antichrist is coming...
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Thank you and God bless you.
Jeff M Newman
(Photo by Fabrizio Lunardi on Unsplash. Cadini di Misurina, Auronzo di Cadore, Province of Belluno, Italy. Berean Standard Bible.)
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