Sermon Preview for Sunday, November 8, 2026: The Last Hour

The Last Hour

1 John 2:18–29

For decades, many evangelical Christians have been taught to regard the last days as a brief period of worldwide turmoil immediately preceding the return of Jesus Christ. This perspective has often encouraged believers to withdraw from meaningful engagement with the world, assuming that the decline of society is inevitable and that the Church can do little to influence its direction. But is this what Scripture actually teaches? In this week’s sermon, we will examine the apostle John’s declaration that the Church was already living in “the last hour” during the first century. His teaching challenges many popular assumptions about the end times and reminds us that Christ’s kingdom is advancing according to God’s sovereign purposes.

Our passage begins with John’s identification of the antichrist, a subject that has generated enormous speculation and confusion. Rather than describing a single future world ruler, John speaks of many antichrists who were already present in his own day. These were individuals who had once associated with the Christian community but eventually revealed their true spiritual condition by rejecting the truth concerning Jesus Christ. Their departure demonstrated that an outward profession of faith is not necessarily evidence of genuine conversion. In contrast, those who remained faithful possessed the anointing of the Holy Spirit, by Whom they had been brought to a saving knowledge of the truth.

In the second part of our passage, John exhorts believers to remain steadfast in the truth they received from the beginning. Their security did not depend upon their ability to withstand deception through human wisdom or determination, but upon God’s sovereign work in their salvation. Having received the promise of eternal life, they were to abide in Christ, confident that His grace would preserve them. Their continuing pursuit of righteousness would provide visible evidence of their new birth.

This passage also raises an important question about the Church’s responsibility in the present age. Misinterpretations of Scripture can have devastating consequences, particularly when they lead Christians to abandon their calling to be salt and light in the world. John reminds us that sound doctrine, spiritual discernment, and faithful obedience are indispensable to the Church’s mission.

Additional thoughts:

“Every man is an antichrist, who denies the Person, or any of the offices of Christ.” Matthew Henry

“The Church is always exposed to this evil, so that it is constrained to bear with many hypocrites who know not Christ.” John Calvin

“Perseverance is the badge of true saints. It is their Scriptural mark.” Charles Spurgeon