John Calvin Commentary 1 John 2:18

"Little children, it is the last hour: and as ye heard that antichrist cometh, even now have there arisen many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last hour." — 1 John 2:18 (ASV)

It is the last time, or hour. He confirms the faithful against offenses that might have disturbed them. Already many sects had risen up, which tore apart the unity of faith and caused disorder in the churches.

But the Apostle not only fortifies the faithful, so that they would not falter, but turns the whole to a contrary purpose. For he reminds them that the last time had already come, and therefore he exhorts them to greater vigilance, as though he had said, “While various errors arise, you should be awakened rather than be overwhelmed; for we ought from this to conclude that Christ is not far distant; let us then attentively look for him, so that he does not come upon us suddenly.”

In the same way, we should comfort ourselves today and see by faith the near advent of Christ, while Satan is causing confusion to disturb the Church, for these are the signs of the last time.

The fact that so many ages have passed since John’s death might seem to prove this prophecy untrue. To this I answer that the Apostle, following the common way of speaking in Scripture, declares to the faithful that nothing more remained than for Christ to appear for the redemption of the world.

But as he fixes no time, he did not allure the people of that age with a vain hope, nor did he intend to cut short in the future the course of the Church and the many successions of years during which the Church has until now remained in the world.

And undoubtedly, if the eternity of God’s kingdom is kept in mind, so long a time will appear to us as a moment. We must understand the Apostle’s intention in calling it the last time, as the period when all things will be so completed that nothing will remain except the last revelation of Christ.

As you have heard that antichrist will come. He speaks of this as something well known. From this we may conclude that the faithful had been taught and warned from the beginning about the future disorder of the Church, so that they might carefully keep themselves in the faith they professed and also instruct future generations in the duty of watchfulness.

For it was God’s will that His Church should be tried in this way, so that no one would knowingly and willingly be deceived, and so that there might be no excuse for ignorance. But we see that almost the whole world has been miserably deceived, as though not a word had been said about Antichrist.

Moreover, under the Papacy, nothing is more notorious and common than the future coming of Antichrist; and yet they are so stupid that they do not perceive that his tyranny is exercised over them.

Indeed, the same thing happens to them as it did to the Jews; for though they hold the promises concerning the Messiah, they are yet further from Christ than if they had never heard His name. For the imaginary Messiah, whom they have invented for themselves, turns them completely away from the Son of God; and if anyone were to show Christ to them from the Law and the Prophets, they would only labor in vain.

The Popes have imagined an Antichrist who for three years and a half is to harass the Church. All the marks by which the Spirit of God has pointed out Antichrist clearly appear in the Pope; but the triennial Antichrist grips the foolish Papists so firmly that, seeing, they do not see.

Let us then remember that Antichrist has not only been announced by the Spirit of God, but also that the marks by which he may be distinguished have been mentioned.

Even now are there many antichrists. This may seem to have been added as a correction, because they falsely thought it would be a single kingdom, but this is not the case. Those who suppose that he would be only one man are indeed greatly mistaken.

For Paul, referring to a future defection, plainly shows that it would be a certain body or kingdom (2 Thessalonians 2:3). He first predicts a defection that would prevail through the whole Church, as a universal evil; he then makes the head of the apostasy the adversary of Christ, who would sit in the temple of God, claiming for himself divinity and divine honors.

Unless we desire to err willfully, we can learn to recognize Antichrist from Paul’s description. I have already explained that passage; it is enough now to touch on it in passing.

But how can that passage agree with the words of John, who says that there were already many antichrists? To this I reply that John meant nothing other than to say that some particular sects had already arisen that were forerunners of a future Antichrist; for Cerinthus, Basilides, Marcion, Valentinus, Ebion, Arius, and others, were members of that kingdom which the Devil afterwards raised up in opposition to Christ.

Properly speaking, Antichrist was not yet in existence, but the mystery of iniquity was working secretly. But John uses the name so that he might effectively stir the care and concern of the godly to repel deceptions.

But if the Spirit of God even then commanded the faithful to remain watchful, when they saw at a distance only signs of the coming enemy, how much less is it now a time for sleeping, when he holds the Church under his cruel and oppressive tyranny and openly dishonors Christ.