STUDIES IN THE FIRST EPISTLE OF JOHN
Biblical Research Monthly-May, 1958
Dr. D.L. Cooper

Installment 5

THE LAST DISPENSATION
The Message of I John 2:18-29

"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" (I John 2:18). The word in the original text translated "hour" is used with various connotations. The facts of each context where it is used must be consulted in order to determine its significance in a given case. In John 2:4 Jesus said to His mother, "Mine hour is not yet come." Here the word "hour" signifies some special time, a time of crisis. In John 4:23 Jesus said to the Samaritan woman, "But the hour cometh and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth: for such doth the Father seek to be his worshippers." From the context, we see that Jesus was talking of the time when true worshippers do not have to go to a local mountain to worship, or to Jerusalem, but that men can worship God anywhere provided they worship in spirit and in truth. In the light of the facts of the context, it is clear that He was talking about the Christian dispensation, which was dawning when Jesus was here on earth.

According to 2 Timothy 1:8-11, grace was given us in Christ Jesus, "before times eternal" Literally, the Greek says, "before ionian times." When this passage, with related ones, is studied in the light of the context, it is clear that the Apostle was speaking about the ages of the past which intervened between the time of the original creation and the time when God repaired the wreckage wrought by the catastrophe set forth in Genesis 1:2. In other words, Paul was speaking about the gap of time between the creation of the universe and the work of restoration recorded in Genesis, chapter 1. From various passages of Scripture, we see that there were ages upon ages before the creation, and that there will be ages upon ages of the future after the passing away (Rev. 20:11) of the present material universe and the creation of the eternal order.

Time, that period of eternity during which the material universe is in existence, is also divided into ages or dispensations. In I John 2:18, the Apostle states that the period during which he was living is the last age or dispensation—the last age before the glorious Kingdom Era, when Christ will reign from sea to sea and from the river to the ends of the earth. The writer of Hebrews, in speaking of Christ's death, declared, "But now once at the end of the ages hath he been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself" (Hebrews 9:26).

The word "hour" is used in the same sense of referring to a period of time in John 5:28, 29: "Marvel not at this: for the hour cometh, in which all that are in the tombs shall hear his voice, 29 and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of judgment." In speaking of this future dispensation—the millennium—Christ declares that the hour comes in which all will be raised: those who have done good in a resurrection of life, and those who have practiced evil unto a resurrection of judgment. When we examine this passage in the light of Revelation 20:1-5, we see that the resurrection of the righteous occurs at the beginning of the millennium—the thousand years' reign of Christ—whereas the lost, those who have practiced evil are raised at the conclusion of the millennium.

Many Antichrists

"…even now have there arisen many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last hour." Jesus foretold the coming of false prophets and false Christs: "For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect" (Matt. 24:24). Jesus, moreover, declared in the same sermon: "For many shall come in my name, saying I am the Christ; and shall lead many astray" (Matt. 24:5). There are two elements meeting in and blending together in the word "antichrist." One of the fundamental meanings of "anti" is "instead of" or "in behalf of." There also is in this word the idea of opposition. The Antichrist is one who palms himself off as the true Messiah and in so doing he opposes Christ; thus there is a blending of the two ideas.

The fact that there were, declared John, those who claimed to be the Christ proves that we are in the last dispensation. Rabbi Abba Silver, in his book Messianic Speculations In Israel, shows that from time to time there have arisen various ones who claimed that they were the true Messiah. Prior to the Christian dispensation, so far as I have been able to learn, no individuals ever made claims to Messianic honors. The fact that certain ones were claiming that they were the Messiah was evidence to John that we, in this dispensation, are in the last one.

The antichrists of whom John was speaking were associated with the body of true believers to whom John was writing. For some specific reason, which the Apostle does not reveal, these antichrists withdrew from the body of believers, as we see in verse 19. "They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us they would have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they all are not of us."

The Anointing of Believers

"And ye have an anointing from the Holy One, and ye know all things. 21 I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and because no lie is of the truth" (I John 2:20,21). John told the Christians that they, had an anointing from the Holy One, the Holy Spirit, and that they, therefore, knew "all things." There is a variation in this verse in the very best manuscripts. The Greek text, which I always use, has as the American Standard Version renders this passage, "and ye all know." I am persuaded that this is the correct text. Certainly John did not mean to state that Christians know everything. Today, with all of our knowledge, no one would claim to know everything. The more we learn, the less we see we know. But if we adhere to the text and flow of thought, John obviously meant that all of the Christians to whom he was writing knew thoroughly the Apostolic teaching concerning antichrists and their diabolical work.

They knew it, not only because of the illumination of the Spirit in their souls, but because of the truth that they had in the writing of the Scriptures. For John then states, "I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and because no lie is of the truth."

In everyone who has been born again the Holy Spirit resides as a permanent guest. He will enlighten us if we depend upon Him in faith and give us spiritual understanding of the Word so that we may see and understand the truth.

David prayed for such illumination in Psalm 119:18. See especially the prayer of the Apostle Paul for spiritual understanding set forth in Ephesians 1:15-23.

The Antichrist

"Who is the liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, even he that denieth the Father and the Son. 23 Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: he that confesseth the Son hath the Father also" (I John 2:22,23). References to the Antichrist appear here and there in the Old Testament, though that name does not occur. He is spoken of as "the willful king" and his high-handed rule and ruthless domination of the world are set forth in Daniel 11:36ff. He is also the "little horn" of Daniel 7:23-25. He is spoken of as "the man of sin," the "son of perdition," by the Apostle Paul in 2 Thessalonians, chapter 2. John, in Revelation, chapter 13, speaks of the Antichrist as "the beast" (the first of the two beasts in that chapter, the second one being his assistant or right-hand man).

The Message of Truth Abiding In the Heart

"As for you, let that abide in you which ye heard from the beginning. If that which ye heard from the beginning abide in you, ye also shall abide in the Son, and in the Father. 25 And this is the promise which he promised us, even the life eternal" (I John 2:24,25). The Psalmist David said that he had stored up the Word of the Lord in his heart that he might not sin against God. Believers are urged to study the Word and to treasure it in their hearts. See Proverbs 2:1-5 for the conditions of understanding the Word. If the Word of Christ abides richly in our hearts, it will control our every thought and act.

False Teachers

"These things have I written unto you concerning them that would lead you astray" (I John 2:26). John was aware that false teachers would attempt to lead true believers astray. Jesus sounded this same note. The Apostle Paul likewise warned the elders of the Church at Ephesus to beware of such (Acts 20:17ff.).

But John assured the believers that the illumination of the Spirit of God in the heart, together with the Word of God, would prevent their being led astray into error.

The Coming of the Lord

"And now, my little children, abide in him; that, if he shall be manifested, we may have boldness, and not be ashamed before him at his coming" (I John 2:28). Some have supposed that John believed Christ would come in his day and time. The language of this verse, apart from all related Scriptures, may be thus interpreted; but when Matthew chapters 24 and 25 are studied thoroughly, it is seen that Jesus spoke in regard to His return. In Matthew 25:14-30, Jesus pictures Himself as the man who went into a far country, but delivered to his servants his goods before his departure. It is clear tht Jesus is represented by the man in the parable who goes into a "far country"—to Heaven. "Now after a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and maketh a reckoning with them" (Matt. 25:19). Jesus here speaks of His return as being after "a long time." In the parable of the pounds, Luke 19, the nobleman goes to a far country and, according to Matthew, returns home after a "long time." In view of these facts, one logically concludes that Jesus meant to teach that He would not come back immediately. According to 2 Peter, chapter 1, the Lord showed Peter how Peter would die and glorify Him. In view of these facts, it is hard to see how the Apostles could expect Jesus' return in their own day and time.

But to us who are now living, the signs of the times indicate that we are fast approaching the time of His return.

Let us, therefore, be up and doing, serving the Master while we have time and opportunity.