"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.” (1st John 2:19)

John makes a statement here that may be a shock to those who have given over to the popular view among Christians concerning the end of the world. John says that the “last time” was already happening during his lifetime! He also says that there are MANY antichrists, not just one.

John wrote this nearly 2,000 years ago so the last time obviously cannot mean the end of the world. So what does it mean?

A brief look back at the prophecy of the coming of the Messiah found in the Book of Daniel will help us understand what the “last time” is.

"And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.” (Daniel 2:44)

Daniel helps Nebuchadnezzar remember his dream and then interprets it for him. The image of a statue represents four kingdoms of men that will be on the earth. History has shown that these four kingdoms came in succession just like Daniel said they would. They were the Babylonians, the Persians, the Greeks, and the Romans.

Daniel tells us that during the last kingdom, the Romans, God would set up a kingdom here on earth that would have no end. It will break in pieces every other kingdom that exists. When Jesus came to earth, that is exactly what God did. That is why Jesus and John the Baptist both said, “repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” They were not saying the kingdom was going to come after a 1,000 years or some other period of time. They were saying that the kingdom is here now!

This is what John meant by the phrase “last time.” The kingdom of the gospel age began during the time of Christ on earth, and it will continue until the Lord returns to take us home at the end of time. There will be no other kingdom that will bear rule like the others. And NOTHING will destroy the kingdom of God on earth!

Think about that the next time you go to church. The gospel church is the manifestation of the kingdom of God on earth. When you go to church, you are truly entering into His courts with praise and thanksgiving!

Jesus reigns today!