What does it mean that many antichrists have come (1 John 2:18)?

In the early Church, believers had to separate false beliefs, particularly those arising from the gnostic sects, from true beliefs. It was not an easy task. Here, those who espoused false beliefs were similar to the Antichrist. Safeguarding the integrity of faith was paramount during this time. These so-called anti-Christs wanted to lead believers astray from the core teachings of Christianity.

Theological Implications

When false teachings sway people, they lose their connection with their steadfast faith and weaken their sacred bond with God. This has far-reaching consequences for the soul. The teachings of the Antichrist are generally against the moral tenets that make one lead a fulfilling life. When one diverges from the core Christian teachings, one rejects the truth of Christ and the salvation offered to all believers.

Patterns of Deception

One of the foremost challenges faced by Christianity is Gnostic texts such as the Apocrypha of John, which state that the God of Christianity is not the true God and that angels are archons. These teachings distort the truth that the God of the Bible is the supreme God who is omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient.

Some Gnostic texts even go to the length of stating that Jesus is not the Son of God of the Bible. Not only are such teachings contrary to the teachings of Christianity, but they are outright blasphemous. There is no solid foundation of these teachings that are considered heresy by mainstream Christianity.

During his time on earth, Jesus never backed deceptive practices such as those espoused by the Gnostic texts. Jesus glorified the God of the Bible and submitted to him, even though Jesus is himself fully man and divine.

Some people give weight to false teachings because they are naive and can be easily misled. But Jesus has warned in the Bible to be wary of false teachers and prophets.

Christian response

Emphasizing the truth of Christ's teachings—faithfully passed down through generations—can help fortify the Church against falsehood. Additionally, fostering a strong fellowship within the true Church encourages a supportive community that upholds sound doctrine, thereby resisting the influence of misleading ideologies.

Conclusion

1 John 2:18 is a thought-provoking verse. Many antichrists have come, and many may be present in our world today, who try to distort the Bible's teachings and lead believers towards perdition. But we must be vigilant and stay true to the Bible's teachings, especially the synoptic Gospels.

My Thoughts

Just think about the last century. Millions of Jewish people were put to death by suffocation in gas chambers. The nazi regime was gruesome.

Is it wrong for me to think that Adolf Hitler and Mussolini fulfilled the role of Antichrist? Not. Hitler was a proponent of the philosophy of Nietzsche, who in turn professed anti-Christian values.

Emotions like mercy and pity were loathed by Hitler, who wanted to create his version of a dystopian world led by the Nietzschean superman, aka Hitler himself.

Also, we can think about the fanatic Osama Bin Laden. He was a proponent of extreme ideology, which led to the horrific 9/11 terrorist attacks in which hundreds of innocent people died. Laden also fulfils the role of the Antichrist.

Who is an anti-Christ, anyway? Someone who opposes the Christian values of love, compassion, generosity, and humility. Those who oppose Christian values have a hard heart and are beyond redemption. Such people have sinned against the Holy Spirit, which is an unforgivable sin.

According to the Book of Revelation, one final anti-Christ will arrive at the end times, who will relentlessly persecute innocent people, the majority of whom will be Christians. This period will be known as the tribulation period. Christ will finally defeat the Antichrist, and God will establish His Kingdom.

The lesson we learn from the antichrists is that arrogance and excessive pride lead to one's downfall. Submitting to God and leading lives that are in consonance with God's ways leads to a fulfilling and cherished life that we can be proud of.

How can we decide if someone is an antichrist in our world today? We can try to do this by analyzing their thoughts and patterns of behavior. If they are very eloquent with speech, try to suppress facts, and espouse falsehood deliberately, then such people are a good candidate for predicting their anti-Christian stance.

If such people try to form some form of organization where Christian teachings, such as the salvation offered by Christ, the love of God, or the gifts of the Holy Spirit, are mocked, then that most definitely means that all such members are of one mind and espouse anti-Christian teachings. In such a scenario, a believer in Christ must get as far away as possible from such people and groups if efforts to change their patterns are met with hostility.