How long do we have to wait until Christ returns to set up His Kingdom? How long until our change comes? Are the waning years of the twentieth century the last days? Peter and Jude warned that scoffers, mockers, cynics, skeptics, and rationalists would try to convince God's people that He would not return soon. Many look upon the world scene and conclude that events like Europe's readiness to challenge the U.S., peace in the Middle East, or the formation of a massive eastern army are not yet in place. Some, judging the church's condition, believe Christ cannot return now because the church has not yet witnessed to all the world or reunited. All these assumptions suggest that events will progress as they always have, but Peter warns that such reasoning is a mistake. World events will seem normal, yet when God's time comes, terrible and sudden changes will occur, and we, as His children, need to be ready.

Counterfeit currency provides a vivid picture of spiritual deception: just as experts learn to detect fakes by studying the genuine article, believers discern error by knowing God's truth. In I John 2:18-23, the apostle John shifts the focus from speculation about a single future antichrist to the reality that many antichrists were already active, seeking to lead believers away from Christ through false teaching. His warning fits within the broader theme of preserving fellowship with God by guarding against both internal weaknesses and external deception. John emphasizes three essential truths: recognizing the reality of the spiritual conflict, discerning deception through the Holy Spirit's anointing, and remaining steadfast in the truth to avoid being led astray. Because the "last hour" encompasses the entire church age until Christ's return, this message remains especially urgent in an era flooded with persuasive but misleading voices.