Signs Of The Last Hour 2

02/14/2010 A.M.

SIGNS OF THE LAST HOUR!

1 John 2:18-19, 22-23

*In 2:18 John uses the term dear children again. This term or phrase indicates an affectionate relationship with the readers and it also indicates John is a position of being more mature person than his readers.

*John is describing the time that they were living in as the last hour! The last hour that John is talking about is the time just before the second coming (Parousia) of Jesus!

*John believed that he was living in the last days because of some specific things that had previously been written as well. Notice what John says in 2:18 Children, it is the last hour; and just AS YOU HEARD that antichrist is coming . . .

*The apostle Paul had written years before John and he said “But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come (2 Tim 3:1). The apostle Peter had also written years before John and

*In addition to what has been previously taught or written, John could also SEE some specific things that were happening that would be true of the conditions just before Christ returns!

*There were three sure signs that John could see and that we are able to see that should remind us of just how imminent Christ return for His children actually is. The first sign of the last hour is the fact that:

I.                  CHRIST IS BEING DENIED!

A.    His DEITY is being DISPUTED!

2:22 Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ?

*

B.     His INTEGRITY is being DEBATED!

2:22 . . . This is the antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son

C.    His AUTHORITY is being DESPISED!

2:23 Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father, the one who confesses the Son has the Father also

1.      To REDEEM the LOST

2.      To RETURN for His BRIDE

3.      To RULE the WORLD

II.               CHURCH IS BEING DESERTED!

1. PHYSICALLY they desert the PRESENCE of the Church

2:19 They went out from us, but they were not really of us

1. INTELLECTUALLY they desert the PURPOSE of the Church!

2:19 . . . for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us

1.      To EXALT the SAVIOR

2.      To EQUIP the SAINTS

3.      To EVANGELIZE the SINNERS

1. MORALLY they desert the PURITY of the Church!

2:19 . . . but they went out, so that it would be shown that they all are not of us!

III.           CHRISTIANS ARE BEING DECEIVED!

A. Stay FAITHFUL to the CHURCH

2:19 . . . if they had been of us, they would have remained with us

B.  Stay FULL of the WORD

2:24 As for you, let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father!

C. Stay FAMILIAR with the SPIRIT

2:27 As for you, the anointing which you received from Him abides in you . . .