The Meaning of 666, The Reason for the Riddle

[Alfred Persson]

I will prove the following two propositions:

1) 666 is a biblical allusion to a man’s name in the Old Testament: Adonikam.

2) The Holy Spirit inspired this Riddle to strengthen the faith of the generation alive in the End Time that will see Adonikam rise to become the Antichrist Beast.

We solve riddles by heeding its details, and spotting any double entendre hinting at a solution. For example, Samson’s riddle (Judges 14:14) contained the solution, honey eaten from the carcass of a lion (Judges 14:8-9, 18):

So he said to them: “Out of the eater came something to eat, And out of the strong came something sweet.” Now for three days they could not explain the riddle. (Jdg. 14:14) NKJ

The word “lion” in Hebrew (ʾarî) is almost identical to an Arabic word for “honey” (ʾary).-Wolf, H. (1992). Judges. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 & 2 Samuel (Vol. 3, p. 468). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.

Lets Solve the 666 Meaning:

Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six. (Rev. 13:18) KJV

John said 666 is the number OF a man, not the number of a name. That’s double entendre, 666 springs from the man, 666 exists because of what the man is or does, it is not his name in code. We must pay attention to the detail with strictness, John insisted we COUNT to arrive at 666, that is one half of the equation. To solve the riddle we must deduce the missing half of the equation that equals 666 and then determine what man caused that calculation to exist, for it is “OF” him. Therefore Gematria, numerology, symbolic meaning, etc. are completely irrelevant.

Lets review other details to find what else is implied in the wording:

This calls for wisdom: let the one who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and his number is 666. (Rev. 13:18) ESV

Christians seek wisdom in scripture, therefore John’s call for it must involve the Bible. Adonikam is the only Bible name of a man 666 and a calculation point to that everyone (3588 ὁ ho) understanding the Bible can find. Once directly (Ezra 2:13) and once after a calculation (Neh. 7:18) subtracting Adonikam’s father who must have had the same name, so 667-1=666 still points to Adonikam. The only reason for the existence of 666 and the calculation resulting in 666, is the man Adonikam so in that sense its the number OF a man named Adonikam, and also the number OF the Beast:

The children of Adonikam, six hundred sixty and six. (Ezr. 2:13) KJV

The children of Adonikam, six hundred threescore and seven. (Neh. 7:18) KJV

Having these two verses point to the same name is like having “two witnesses” establishing the matter (Deut. 19:15).

Adonikam alone is the elegant solution, it alone assembles John’s puzzle following all his requirements and still satisfies his expectation anyone with Bible wisdom will discover the one name he had in mind when he penned this riddle.

Not so Kabbalistic Gematria. The pieces just do not fit, and regardless how it is tweaked, so many names are produced it will never satisfy John’s expectation only one name will result and the probability the reader will pick the name John had in mind is infinitesimal.

Click here for expanded version

 

[King Dan of Great the 1st]

The antichrist beast is the spirit of antichrist that is leading this world into a sick downward destructive spiral. This world is infested with antichrist.

Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son.

Who denies Christ come in the flesh?.

Verses on antichrist.

1 John 2:22
1 John 4:3
1 John 2:18
2 John 1:7

 

[Alfred Persson]

The antichrist beast is the spirit of antichrist that is leading this world into a sick downward destructive spiral. This world is infested with antichrist.

Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son.

Who denies salvation come in the flesh?.

Verses on antichrist.

1 John 2:22
1 John 4:3
1 John 2:18
2 John 1:7

I agree, but we cannot ignore the scripture that says the Antichrist will come:

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. (1 Jn. 2:18 KJV)

 

[King Dan of Great the 1st]

I agree, but we cannot ignore the scripture that says the Antichrist will come:

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. (1 Jn. 2:18 KJV)

Yes, but its talking about the antichrist spirit, many people are antichrists because there spirit seeks not God and its the antichrist that consumes the earth.

There is the Spirit of God and the Spirit of antichrist.

"Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son."

"And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist"

 

[King Dan of Great the 1st]

The antichrist spirit is the force and many people are antichrist. There is no single antichrist figure in scripture. Even as the above verse says many are antichrist and the Spirit is the antichrist.

Many people think antichrist is some crazy devil man who will come on the scene. False news. There is no single antichrist. There is many antichrists through the antichrist spirit.


"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"

We live 2000 years than when that scripture was written, yes the antichrist spirit is here now and is going into its fullness and consuming the world.

 

[Alfred Persson]

The antichrist spirit is the force and many people are antichrist. There is no single antichrist figure in scripture. Even as the above verse says many are antichrist and the Spirit is the antichrist.

Many people think antichrist is some crazy devil man who will come on the scene. False news. There is no single antichrist. There is many antichrists through the antichrist spirit.


"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"

We live 2000 years than when that scripture was written, yes the antichrist spirit is here now and is going into its fullness and consuming the world.

I suspect your motive for rejecting what John plainly said "antichrist shall come" is to protect him from being called a false prophet.

But its not needed, John is not prophesying the end, he is teaching what the end will be like, by comparing what was happening then to what will happen in the "last hour".

This is NOT a prediction, its teaching:

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. (1 Jn. 2:18 KJV)

John is not predicting the end, he doesn't know when Christ or the Antichrist will come.

He is discussing "the end" in abstract, saying it will be unique in history by the appearance of "many antichrists", by the manifestation of the spirit of antichrist, by the appearance of a "falling away" apostasy from the faith. The church he was writing to saw many of its members leave to preach antichristian doctrine.

They were sign and wonder working "TARES" sown among the wheat. There was a great falling away that afflicted that particular church.

John says "that is precisely how it will be in the last time".

He is not saying its the last time, if he did he would have named the Antichrist he just said "shall come".

 

[Douglas Summers]

1) 666 is a biblical allusion to a man’s name in the Old Testament: Adonikam.

Hi Alfred, 6 is the number of man. 666 is the infinity of man. The Antichrist's (plural) is the government of man opposed to the kingdom of God seeking the position as a god. What is not clear now will be clear to those who go through the great tribulation. They have the book.

 

[Alfred Persson]

Hi Alfred, 6 is the number of man. 666 is the infinity of man. The Antichrist's (plural) is the government of man opposed to the kingdom of God seeking the position as a god. What is not clear now will be clear to those who go through the great tribulation. They have the book.

That's interesting but it fails to take John up on his challenge to solve the riddle. To solve a riddle, you must identify the "tells" that indicate the answer.

 

[Roro1972]

I will prove the following two propositions:

1) 666 is a biblical allusion to a man’s name in the Old Testament: Adonikam.

2) The Holy Spirit inspired this Riddle to strengthen the faith of the generation alive in the End Time that will see Adonikam rise to become the Antichrist Beast.

We solve riddles by heeding its details, and spotting any double entendre hinting at a solution. For example, Samson’s riddle (Judges 14:14) contained the solution, honey eaten from the carcass of a lion (Judges 14:8-9, 18):

So he said to them: “Out of the eater came something to eat, And out of the strong came something sweet.” Now for three days they could not explain the riddle. (Jdg. 14:14) NKJ

The word “lion” in Hebrew (ʾarî) is almost identical to an Arabic word for “honey” (ʾary).-Wolf, H. (1992). Judges. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 & 2 Samuel (Vol. 3, p. 468). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.

Lets Solve the 666 Meaning:

Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six. (Rev. 13:18) KJV

John said 666 is the number OF a man, not the number of a name. That’s double entendre, 666 springs from the man, 666 exists because of what the man is or does, it is not his name in code. We must pay attention to the detail with strictness, John insisted we COUNT to arrive at 666, that is one half of the equation. To solve the riddle we must deduce the missing half of the equation that equals 666 and then determine what man caused that calculation to exist, for it is “OF” him. Therefore Gematria, numerology, symbolic meaning, etc. are completely irrelevant.

Lets review other details to find what else is implied in the wording:

This calls for wisdom: let the one who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and his number is 666. (Rev. 13:18) ESV

Christians seek wisdom in scripture, therefore John’s call for it must involve the Bible. Adonikam is the only Bible name of a man 666 and a calculation point to that everyone (3588 ὁ ho) understanding the Bible can find. Once directly (Ezra 2:13) and once after a calculation (Neh. 7:18) subtracting Adonikam’s father who must have had the same name, so 667-1=666 still points to Adonikam. The only reason for the existence of 666 and the calculation resulting in 666, is the man Adonikam so in that sense its the number OF a man named Adonikam, and also the number OF the Beast:

The children of Adonikam, six hundred sixty and six. (Ezr. 2:13) KJV

The children of Adonikam, six hundred threescore and seven. (Neh. 7:18) KJV

Having these two verses point to the same name is like having “two witnesses” establishing the matter (Deut. 19:15).

Adonikam alone is the elegant solution, it alone assembles John’s puzzle following all his requirements and still satisfies his expectation anyone with Bible wisdom will discover the one name he had in mind when he penned this riddle.

Not so Kabbalistic Gematria. The pieces just do not fit, and regardless how it is tweaked, so many names are produced it will never satisfy John’s expectation only one name will result and the probability the reader will pick the name John had in mind is infinitesimal.

Click here for expanded version

This line below is not clear to me.
subtracting Adonikam’s father who must have had the same name, so 667-1=666 still points to Adonikam

I am curious why you use Adonikams Father in the equation by name yet you did not supply proof his Father was named Adonikam. If his father were not named Adonikam does that change the equation?

 

[Douglas Summers]

but it fails to take John up on his challenge to solve the riddle.

Actually it is Christ giving the riddle, John is scribbing by the command of Christ (Rev. 1:1)

 

[markathome]

I would start with learning your ABC's for the past 3 thousand years first.

We are told this is 666 from P47 manuscript aka chi-xi-stigma
As a side note the Nomina Sacra of Christ/Messiah is ΧΣ

The above is written as ΧΣϛ
Research the ΧΣϛ, from the oldest manuscript of the 666 written.

Good Luck on your Research of a Riddle that's not really a Riddle.

 

[reba]

In most translations of Scripture the word antichrist is not found in The Revelation of Jesus Christ

What i find interesting is John 'penned ' The little books of John and The Revelation of Jesus Christ. God chose not to use the term antichrist in His Revelation .. Yet man puts it there over and over..
What antichrist is ,is stated clearly in john

1Jn 2:18 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.

1Jn 2:22 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.
1Jn 2:23 Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.

1Jn 4:2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
1Jn 4:3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

2Jn 1:7 For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.
2Jn 1:8 Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.
2Jn 1:9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
2Jn 1:10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:
2Jn 1:11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.

The above are the verses that speak of antichrist .. None of which speak to a world leader or setting himself up in a temple. Nor is antichrist spoken of a single person.. and not capitalized .

 

[Alfred Persson]

This line below is not clear to me.
subtracting Adonikam’s father who must have had the same name, so 667-1=666 still points to Adonikam

I am curious why you use Adonikams Father in the equation by name yet you did not supply proof his Father was named Adonikam. If his father were not named Adonikam does that change the equation?

The experts believe its a scribal error. I believe in providential preservation of scripture. So the solution to the difference is elementary, they are both right, therefore Nehemiah must be counting from Adonikam's father, then its 667. Counting from his son, 666.

Consider this difference is in all the texts, including the Septuagint. Never did copyists change it, that is a temptation modern copyists rush to satisfy. You can be sure copyists wanted to make them read the same, but God prevented it. The most plausible reason, to inspire faith in God's word in the generation that will see all things Godly attacked viciously by an apostate church and the Antichrist.

 

[Alfred Persson]

In most translations of Scripture the word antichrist is not found in The Revelation of Jesus Christ

What i find interesting is John 'penned ' The little books of John and The Revelation of Jesus Christ. God chose not to use the term antichrist in His Revelation .. Yet man puts it there over and over..
What antichrist is ,is stated clearly in john

1Jn 2:18 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.

1Jn 2:22 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.
1Jn 2:23 Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.

1Jn 4:2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
1Jn 4:3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

2Jn 1:7 For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.
2Jn 1:8 Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.
2Jn 1:9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
2Jn 1:10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:
2Jn 1:11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.

The above are the verses that speak of antichrist .. None of which speak to a world leader or setting himself up in a temple. Nor is antichrist spoken of a single person.. and not capitalized .

If Antichrist were a proper noun, your argument is valid. But its not, its a description and in context John applies it to "many antichrists" who left his church to found their own. A church of miracle working TARES. Therefore the name can be used of any wolf in sheep's clothing, but more aptly fits a miracle working wolf like the man of sin predicted in 2 Thess. 2:3-4, and after he morphs into the Son of Destruction Judas who denies the Father and the Son, the "mouth" of the Beast speaking great things (Rev. 13:4).


ANTICHRIST
antichristos (ἀντίχριστος, 500) can mean either “against Christ” or “instead of Christ,” or perhaps, combining the two, “one who, assuming the guise of Christ, opposes Christ” (Westcott)


Vine, W. E., Unger, M. F., & White, W., Jr. (1996). Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words (Vol. 2, p. 30). Nashville, TN: T. Nelson.

 

[Edward]

This calls for wisdom: let the one who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and his number is 666. (Rev. 13:18) ESV

I heard a sermon once, where the Pastor made the point that 666 is 2/3 of 1000. God is a triune being, and man is a triune being, but has fell. In the fall, we lost the third strand of our DNA, and we went to two. We need that third strand back. We need Christ. Only then can we ever hope to achieve the fullness of the stature of Christ..

It kind of makes sense. I see his point and it could be so.

 

[Alfred Persson]

I heard a sermon once, where the Pastor made the point that 666 is 2/3 of 1000. God is a triune being, and man is a triune being, but has fell. In the fall, we lost the third strand of our DNA, and we went to two. We need that third strand back. We need Christ. Only then can we ever hope to achieve the fullness of the stature of Christ..

It kind of makes sense. I see his point and it could be so.

Makes no sense at all, God is not a "triune being", He is One Infinite Ocean of Essence in whom subsists Three Divine Persons, equally.

Man is One Person who consists of three different substances, body soul and spirit.

You could say we are the reflex of God, a reverse of what He is, but your pastor equated God and man, that is impossible.

God is infinite, man is finite.

 

[Edward]

Makes no sense at all, God is not a "triune being", He is One Infinite Ocean of Essence in whom subsists Three Divine Persons, equally.

Man is One Person who consists of three different substances, body soul and spirit.

You could say we are the reflex of God, a reverse of what He is, but your pastor equated God and man, that is impossible.

God is infinite, man is finite.

I'm sorry Brother but you missed my point. That's not what I'm saying. Maybe I'll try again tomorrow.

 

[Douglas Summers]

It kind of makes sense. I see his point and it could be so.

Hi Edward, The number of man is six. When God is finished, man will be a seven. Seven stands for complete or finished.
The Meaning of Numbers: The Number 6
In the Bible, the number 6 symbolizes man and human weakness, the evils of Satan and the manifestation of sin. Man was created on the sixth day. Men are appointed 6 days to labor.

A Hebrew slave was to serve six years and be released in the 7th year. Six years were appointed for the land to be sown and harvested. The number 6 is also associated with Satan in his temptation of Jesus.
The Meaning of Numbers: The Number 7
Used 735 times (54 times in the book of Revelation alone), the number 7 is the foundation of God's word. If we include with this count how many times 'sevenfold' (6) and 'seventh' (119) is used, our total jumps to 860 references.

Seven is the number of completeness and perfection (both physical and spiritual). It derives much of its meaning from being tied directly to God's creation of all things. According to Jewish tradition, the creation of Adam occurred on October 7th, 3761 B.C. (or the first day of Tishri, which is the seventh month on the Hebrew calendar). The word 'created' is used 7 times describing God's creative work (Genesis 1:1, 21, 27 three times; 2:3; 2:4). There are 7 days in a week and God's Sabbath is on the 7th day.

The Bible, as a whole, was originally divided into 7 major divisions. They are 1) the Law; 2) the Prophets; 3) the Writings, or Psalms; 4) the Gospels and Acts; 5) the General Epistles; 6) the Epistles of Paul; and 7) the book of Revelation. The total number of originally inspired books was forty-nine, or 7 x 7, demonstrating the absolute perfection of the Word of God.

Appearances of the number seven
There are at least seven men in the Old Testament who are specifically mentioned as a man of God. They are Moses (Joshua 14:6), David (2Chronicles 8:14), Samuel (1Samuel 9:6, 14), Shemaiah (1Kings 12:22), Elijah (1Kings 17:18), Elisha (2Kings 5:8) and Igdaliah (Jeremiah 35:4).

In the book of Hebrews, written by the apostle Paul, he uses seven titles to refer to Christ. The titles are 'Heir of all things' (Hebrews 1:2), 'Captain of our salvation' (2:10), 'Apostle' (3:1), 'Author of salvation' (5:9), 'Forerunner' (6:20), 'High Priest' (10:21) and the 'Author and finisher of our faith' (12:2).

 

[Alfred Persson]

Hi Edward, The number of man is six. When God is finished, man will be a seven. Seven stands for complete or finished.
The Meaning of Numbers: The Number 6
In the Bible, the number 6 symbolizes man and human weakness, the evils of Satan and the manifestation of sin. Man was created on the sixth day. Men are appointed 6 days to labor.

A Hebrew slave was to serve six years and be released in the 7th year. Six years were appointed for the land to be sown and harvested. The number 6 is also associated with Satan in his temptation of Jesus.
The Meaning of Numbers: The Number 7
Used 735 times (54 times in the book of Revelation alone), the number 7 is the foundation of God's word. If we include with this count how many times 'sevenfold' (6) and 'seventh' (119) is used, our total jumps to 860 references.

Seven is the number of completeness and perfection (both physical and spiritual). It derives much of its meaning from being tied directly to God's creation of all things. According to Jewish tradition, the creation of Adam occurred on October 7th, 3761 B.C. (or the first day of Tishri, which is the seventh month on the Hebrew calendar). The word 'created' is used 7 times describing God's creative work (Genesis 1:1, 21, 27 three times; 2:3; 2:4). There are 7 days in a week and God's Sabbath is on the 7th day.

The Bible, as a whole, was originally divided into 7 major divisions. They are 1) the Law; 2) the Prophets; 3) the Writings, or Psalms; 4) the Gospels and Acts; 5) the General Epistles; 6) the Epistles of Paul; and 7) the book of Revelation. The total number of originally inspired books was forty-nine, or 7 x 7, demonstrating the absolute perfection of the Word of God.

Appearances of the number seven
There are at least seven men in the Old Testament who are specifically mentioned as a man of God. They are Moses (Joshua 14:6), David (2Chronicles 8:14), Samuel (1Samuel 9:6, 14), Shemaiah (1Kings 12:22), Elijah (1Kings 17:18), Elisha (2Kings 5:8) and Igdaliah (Jeremiah 35:4).

In the book of Hebrews, written by the apostle Paul, he uses seven titles to refer to Christ. The titles are 'Heir of all things' (Hebrews 1:2), 'Captain of our salvation' (2:10), 'Apostle' (3:1), 'Author of salvation' (5:9), 'Forerunner' (6:20), 'High Priest' (10:21) and the 'Author and finisher of our faith' (12:2).

Yes, its correct Revelation uses numbers symbolically, often. But not all the time. What Christ said about false prophets can by extension apply to teaching, for prophets teach:

16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. (Matt. 7:16-18 KJV)

If John is playing with words and symbolic meanings, it does nothing to inspire faith in God or His word the Bible. But if John predicted the actual name of the Beast, then the generation that sees these things occur will be strengthened in their faith in both God and His word. Accordingly I have rewritten an opening paragraph to read as follows:

The Holy Spirit inspired this Riddle to strengthen the faith of the generation alive in the End Time fighting against unprecedented apostasy (2 Th. 2:3-4; 1 Tim. 4:1; 2 Tim. 4:2). and mockery of God's Word the Bible (Jude 1:18; 1 Tim. 3:1-5; 2 Pet. 3:3). Adonikam's name will be the actual name of the Beast that rises and the solution indicates both Providential Preservation and Inerrancy of Scripture are true, as both 666 and 667 are correct and God prevented copiests from reconciling the number as modern textual critics are wont to do.

 

[King Dan of Great the 1st]

I suspect your motive for rejecting what John plainly said "antichrist shall come" is to protect him from being called a false prophet.

But its not needed, John is not prophesying the end, he is teaching what the end will be like, by comparing what was happening then to what will happen in the "last hour".

This is NOT a prediction, its teaching:

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. (1 Jn. 2:18 KJV)

John is not predicting the end, he doesn't know when Christ or the Antichrist will come.

He is discussing "the end" in abstract, saying it will be unique in history by the appearance of "many antichrists", by the manifestation of the spirit of antichrist, by the appearance of a "falling away" apostasy from the faith. The church he was writing to saw many of its members leave to preach antichristian doctrine.

They were sign and wonder working "TARES" sown among the wheat. There was a great falling away that afflicted that particular church.

John says "that is precisely how it will be in the last time".

He is not saying its the last time, if he did he would have named the Antichrist he just said "shall come".

This is what the scripture says

'And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.'

So it says the antichrist is spirit and ye have heard it shall come and now already is it in the world.

'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.'