The last hour is the entire period extending from Christ's death, resurrection, ascension, and the descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost until His final return. The apostle John states that this age is already the last hour because many antichrists have arisen, proving that the time is characterized by the presence of deception. The phrase also carries a personal sense: any individual's remaining days may be his last opportunity to develop the character of Christ. At the same time, certain epochs of intensified evil and judgment are last hours in a more specific way, and the final crisis immediately preceding Christ's visible return will be the ultimate last hour. John places this teaching within his larger theme of preserving fellowship with the Father and the Son. After warning against internal dangers such as sin and love of the world, he turns to the external threat of those who seek to seduce believers from the truth. The many antichrists who went out from the church yet were never truly of it illustrate how deception operates within the very atmosphere of God's people. Because the anointing of the Holy Spirit abides in believers, they are able to recognize the spirit of error, reject every lie that denies the Father and the Son, and remain steadfast until Christ returns.

How long must we wait until Christ returns to establish His Kingdom? Many speculate on the timing, with some suggesting a few hundred years, others twenty to fifty, and a few insisting it could be as soon as tomorrow. Are we in the waning years of the twentieth century truly in the last days? Peter and Jude foretold that scoffers and skeptics would emerge, attempting to convince God's people that His return is not imminent, despite all factors aligning. These cynics point to world events—Europe's unreadiness to challenge the U.S., peace in the Middle East, and the absence of a 200-million-man army from the East—as evidence of delay. They also judge the church's condition, claiming Christ cannot return until the gospel reaches all the world and the church reunites. Yet Peter warns that such reasoning, assuming events will progress as always, is a grave error. When God's time arrives, sudden and terrible changes will occur, and we, as His children, must be prepared. The term "last days," often synonymous with "the day of the Lord," appears throughout Scripture, indicating various periods depending on context, from the specific day of Christ's return to the entire Christian era. Most frequently, it refers to the general period before Jesus Christ returns. Among the signs of these last days, Matthew 24:22 stands out, declaring that unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved, but for the elect's sake, they will be. Additionally, the falling away, a departure from the true faith and revealed truth of God, marks this era. Paul identifies this deception as the mystery of lawlessness, a lie that we need not obey God's law, a falsehood satan has always promoted. In recent times, we have witnessed such apostasy among many former brethren who have turned from God's truths. We must stand fast, holding to the traditions taught, diligently strengthening our understanding to show our love for the truth, affirming that these are indeed the last days.