John begins his theme of the last hour or days when the antichrist will appear. His theme seems to be to warn the believers to continue to abide in Christ and the teachings of the Holy Spirit and remain firm against the lies they may hear.
John says they are in the last hour, as opposed to day, hour (hora) simply means a definite point in time. It is the time when the antichrist or the adversary of Christ will appear. He warns that some who now lead others astray were originally a part of the church fellowship. They were not authentic believers, but wolves in sheeps clothing. They went out (exerchomai) to go or come forth of those who leave a place of their own accord.
John emphasizes that they are not like those who went out for they know the truth and are able to detect a lie due to the Holy Spirit. He tells them repeatedly to abide in that truth and in Jesus as he does in many other passages also in John 6:56; 8:31; 14:17; 15:4-7,9,10,16 and 2 John 1:9. For John abiding in Christ is very important for the believer is fruitless without this abiding in Him. We can do nothing in our flesh. The one who denies Jesus cannot have the Father for the Father reveals the Son. Also, in Hebrews 1:3 it tells us that the Son is "the exact representation of his being" John also reminds them that the Holy Spirit is their teacher Jer 31:34: John 6:45, 16:13 he teaches the truth and convicts the world concerning righteousness and judgment and sin.
John says they are in the last hour, as opposed to day, hour (hora) simply means a definite point in time. It is the time when the antichrist or the adversary of Christ will appear. He warns that some who now lead others astray were originally a part of the church fellowship. They were not authentic believers, but wolves in sheeps clothing. They went out (exerchomai) to go or come forth of those who leave a place of their own accord.
John emphasizes that they are not like those who went out for they know the truth and are able to detect a lie due to the Holy Spirit. He tells them repeatedly to abide in that truth and in Jesus as he does in many other passages also in John 6:56; 8:31; 14:17; 15:4-7,9,10,16 and 2 John 1:9. For John abiding in Christ is very important for the believer is fruitless without this abiding in Him. We can do nothing in our flesh. The one who denies Jesus cannot have the Father for the Father reveals the Son. Also, in Hebrews 1:3 it tells us that the Son is "the exact representation of his being" John also reminds them that the Holy Spirit is their teacher Jer 31:34: John 6:45, 16:13 he teaches the truth and convicts the world concerning righteousness and judgment and sin.
