We’re in the last hour (and have been since the 1st century)

In these two passages cited below, the first one written almost 600 years before Jesus and the second written about 60 years after Jesus died and rose from the dead, we have the prediction/prophecy of false teaching and many in the world fall prey to lies. Even those who profess to believe will have a number who fall prey to the lies. This is true not only in the first century and but in the 21st century. It’s not only true in America today given the moral and immoral teachings and approvals, but it’s happening all around the world in different ways. We’ve been in the last hour with false teaching and people falling away and being deceived and tricked for a long time. And we must keep to God’s Word and to Jesus Christ authoritatively revealed in the Scriptures in this hour.

Daniel 11:31–34 (CSB) —³¹ His forces will rise up and desecrate the temple fortress. They will abolish the daily sacrifice and set up the abomination of desolation. ³² With flattery he will corrupt those who act wickedly toward the covenant, but the people who know their God will be strong and take action. ³³ Those who are wise among the people will give understanding to many, yet they will die by sword and flame, and be captured and plundered for a time. ³⁴ When defeated, they will be helped by some, but many others will join them insincerely.

1 John 2:18–23 (CSB) —¹⁸ Children, it is the last hour. And as you have heard, “Antichrist is coming,” even now many antichrists have come. We know from this that it is the last hour. ¹⁹ They went out from us, but they did not belong to us; for if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us. However, they went out so that it might be made clear that none of them belongs to us. ²⁰ But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you have knowledge. ²¹ I have not written to you because you don’t know the truth, but because you do know it, and because no lie comes from the truth. ²² Who is the liar, if not the one who denies that Jesus is the Messiah? This one is the antichrist: the one who denies the Father and the Son. ²³ No one who denies the Son can have the Father; he who confesses the Son has the Father as well.

(this post was inspired by reading chapter 5 of Greg Beale’s book, A New Testament Biblical Theology).