What is the faithful’s attitude towards the devil who opposes the Lord Christ and tries to pervert His second coming?

When apostle John tells us about Satan and his opposition to the Lord Christ, even at His second coming, he calls the faithful to be steadfast in their faith in God and to cherish being His children: “Therefore 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. And this is the promise that He has promised us—eternal life. These things I have written to you concerning those who try to deceive you. But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him. And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.” (1 John 2:24–29). The purpose of his words is to train the eyes of the faithful so that those with new and foreign

1237 St. Cyril of Alexandria, Commentary on the Twelve Prophets, Vol. 1 Commentary on Hosea 1.42–43 (FOTC 115:62–63).

teachings cannot mislead us with their deceitful methods, and to make us steadfast through his words as an unyielding anointing within us …

• a. That we will long and hope for His coming as a bride longs for her bridegroom, longing to abide in his embrace, and to see him face to face for all eternity.

• b. That as the faithful who have not strayed from the Church, we will abide in that which we have heard from the beginning and transmitted from generation to generation. And, remaining firm in the true faith and life, we shall be steadfast in the Son and the Father, looking for the promise for which we yearn; that is, eternal life.

• c. That as is fitting for the faithful who have the steadfast anointing of the Holy, and have no need of foreign teachings, we should abide in that which we received from the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth in whom is no deceit, “and is true, and is not a lie” [1 John 2:27]; whereby all teachers disappear and do not serve of their own accord, but of the Only Teacher, who is the Lord (cf. Matt. 23:10).