The Spiritual Battle for the Mind of Man:

1. The Anticipated Appearance (“the last hour”) – v. 18a
2. The Antichrist’s Attack – vv. 18b-19
3. The Anointed Truth – vv. 20-21
4. The Antichrist Defined – vv. 22-23
5. The Abiding Faith – v. 24
6. The Promise in a Post-Script – vv. 24-27

(NASB):

18 Children, it is the last hour, and just as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have appeared; from this we know that is is the last hour.

19 They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, so that is would be shown that they all are not of us.

20 But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you all know.

21 I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, because you do know it, and because no lie is of the truth.

22 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.

23 Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father; the one who confesses the Son has the Father also.

24 As for you, let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father.

25 This is the promise which He Himself made to us: eternal life.

226 These things I have written to you concerning those who are trying to deceive you.

27 As for you, the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has aught you, you abide in Him.