The Apostle John, the last of the original apostles and now likely the only one living, must have been into his 80’s or 90’s when he wrote this. He spoke to the church as his “little children” and they were because they are the children of God but they are God’s children only because they have overcome them. The “them” are those who have the spirit of antichrist (1st John 4:1-3) or are opposed to anything that has to do with Christ and the gospel message. The enemy and his demons are not “greater than he (God) who is in us.” And-they-have-conquered “Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” 1 John 4:4 whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 1 John 4:8