Children, it is the last hour. And as you have heard, “Antichrist is coming” even now many antichrists have come. We know from this that it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they did not belong to us, for if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us. However, they went out so that it might be made clear that none of them belongs to us. 1 John 2:18-19 HCSB
The antichrists are false teachers who pretend to be Christians. They lure weak people away from Christ. There have been antichrists from the time of the early church to today. Finally, just before the end of the world one great antichrist will appear and deceive many people (Revelation 13; 19:20; 20:10).
Evidently, these antichrists had become members of the early church. John tells us that they “went out from us”. We do not know why they left. They joined the church for the wrong reasons. These antichrists were not really a part of the body of Christ. Their leaving is evidence that they did not really belong.
Challenge: As a believer, you do not need to fear an antichrist. The power (Holy Spirit) that is within you is greater than the power that is in the world. The Holy Spirit will guide you and help you to determine the truth so you will not be led astray. Spend time in God’s Word so you will not fall prey to the false teachings of the antichrist.