I John 2: 18-24
New American Standard Bible
18 Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have appeared; from this we know that it is the last hour. 19 They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, so that [d]it would be shown that they all are not of us. 20 [e]But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you all know. 21 I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it, and [f]because no lie is of the truth. 22 Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the [g]Christ? This is the antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son. 23 Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father; the one who confesses the Son has the Father also. 24 As for you, let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father.
English Standard Version
18 Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour. 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 it might become plain that they all are not of us. 20 But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge.[d] 21 I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth. 22 Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son. 23 No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also. 24 Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father.
King James Version
18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. 19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us. 20 But ye have an unction 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 that no lie is of the truth. 22 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. 23 Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also. 24 Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.
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The I John texts mentions the antichrist then antichrists. The commentary of R.W. Orr explains that these antichrist teachers seceded from the New Testament Christian Church, marking their apostasy from the truth. (1578). It serves as a demonstration that none of the persons actually belonged in the true Church.
From the versions listed:
NASB: 19 They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, so that [d]it would be shown that they all are not of us.
A friend of mine today texted me and wrote that a Christian intellectual he listens to opined that the actual end times antichrist might come from New Apostolic Reformation with its approach that assumes the continuation of apostles of prophets. My friend reasons that the movement embraces hyper-charismatic theology and manifestations.
I thought of what I had recently heard listening to I John 2, online...
If the futurist interpretation is correct, and I reason it is at least to some significant degree, the end times antichrist and not only antichrists, could arise from those that attended church within the Christian Church, as those that were never really of us. They were false, biblical Christians.
From my theological speculation, which is different than my friend's source, some type of traditional Christianity and traditional denominations seems a reasonable possibility to produce a religious side of a false Christ, the end times Antichrist. 2 Thessalonians mentions a great falling away (2: 3).
But, I admit, a new religion, without claimed Christian heritage, but a Satanic copy of sorts, is also a possibility.
With the first possibility, extreme liberal and secularized churches connected to Western, political powers in North America and Europe could possibly be part of a revitalized (Western) Roman Empire of sorts, that claims Christian religious heritage and yet denies both the Father and the Son, and therefore the Holy Spirit. These churches then energized by Satanic powers within the reign of the Antichrist.
2 Thessalonians 2
New American Standard Bible
6 And you know what restrains him now, so that in his time he will be revealed. 7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way. 8 Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His [f]coming; 9 that is, the one whose [g]coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and [h]signs and false wonders, 10 and with [i]all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. 11 For this reason God [j]will send upon them [k]a deluding influence so that they will believe [l]what is false, 12 in order that they all may be [m]judged who did not believe the truth, but [n]took pleasure in wickedness.
HUBBARD, DAVID A.(1996) ‘Antichrist’, in Walter A. Elwell (ed.), Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, Grand Rapids, Baker Books.
MOUNCE, ROBERT H. (1990) The Book of Revelation, Grand Rapids, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.
ORR, R.W. (1986) 'The Letters of John' in The International Bible Commentary, Grand Rapids, Zondervan.
