Matthew Poole and continuators on 1 John 2:18

18 Little children, it is the last time , and as we have heard that Antichrist shall come, even now are there many Antichrists; whereby we know it is the last time.

The time here referr'd to, seems to be the destruction of Ierusalem, and the finishing of the Iewish State, both Civil and Ecclesiastical. In the Greek the last hour, the approaching Period of Daniel's 70 Weeks, as Mr. Mede understands it, (Apostacy of the later times.)

Whereas therefore it was now a known and expected thing among Christians, that the eminent Antichrist, or Antichristian State, (expressly foretold 2 Thess. 2.) was to come, or take place; therefore the Apostle saies, we, i. e. the Generality of Christians, have heard so much. So he saies,

even now, as the Fore-runners of that eminent one. There are many Antichrists (foretold also by our Saviour, Matt. 24.) viz. noted Hereticks, and Seducers then in being; not such falsely assuming vicarious Christs, as only pretended to do that part which the Iews expected from their Messiah, the delivering them from the Roman Tyranny, and so set up to be meerly Civil, or secular Christs, having themselves never been Christians; but such as had revolted from Christianity, and now laboured fundamentally to subvert it, denying Christ to be come in the Flesh, v. 22. 2 Epist. 7. having been before professed Christians, as appears by the following words.

Marginal references: 2 Thess. 2.3.