A Practical Eschatology

John, who also wrote the Revelation has his eyes firmly fixed on end times. He speaks of the “last day” (2:18); the “antichrist” and “antichrists” (2:18; 4:1), the return of Christ (parousi,a 2:28; 3:2), the “judgment” (4:17). John's eschatology is eminently practical; that it would advance purity in life (3:3) and that there might be confidence when Christ returns (2:28). John is not interested so much in the eschatological time-frame. He is interested in how the end-time events are to be brought to bear on the life here and now. This is seen throughout the epistle in a number of different instances.
• He is the only New Testament writer to use the word “antichrist” and he uses it with regard to the spirit of antichrist in the present world, not the person of antichrist.
• When referring to the appearing of Christ he never uses the word apocalypse, but the word that speaks of his 'appearance' to and for his people (1:2; 3:5, 8; I Timothy 3:16; I Peter 1:20; I John 3:2; Colossians 3:4; I Peter 5:4; Mark 16:12,14; John 21:14; John 1:31; 7:4).