The Bible warns that as the end of the age approaches, lawlessness will not only exist but will abound. The term “lawlessness” in Scripture refers to open rebellion against God’s commands, the rejection of His authority, and a moral decline that disregards His truth. It is a spiritual condition that reflects the increase of sin, deception, and self-will, leading to a coldness in love and faith.
Jesus, Paul, and the apostles all gave prophetic warnings about lawlessness in the last days, not to frighten believers, but to prepare them for perseverance and holiness.
1. The Prophecy of Lawlessness
Jesus Himself foretold the rise of lawlessness:
Matthew 24:12 – “And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.”
In the Olivet Discourse, Jesus listed the signs of the end times—wars, famines, earthquakes, persecution—and among them, the spread of lawlessness. This means that moral corruption will not be an isolated issue, but a global condition.
In Greek, the word translated as lawlessness is “anomia”, meaning without law or against the law, referring primarily to God’s law, not human legislation. This shows that the last days will be marked by people rejecting God’s standards, calling evil good and good evil (Isaiah 5:20).
2. The Mystery of Lawlessness Already at Work
Paul confirmed that this spirit of rebellion is not just a future event but is already operating:
2 Thessalonians 2:7–8 – “For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed…”
Here, Paul speaks of a hidden force of rebellion that is gradually influencing the world until it culminates in the appearance of the lawless one—the Antichrist. This mystery of lawlessness works through deception, false teaching, and moral decay. It’s a satanic agenda designed to prepare the world to reject God’s authority and embrace the man of sin.
3. Lawlessness and the Antichrist
The Bible directly connects end-time lawlessness to the rise of the Antichrist.
Daniel 7:25 – “He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, shall persecute the saints of the Most High, and shall intend to change times and law…”
The Antichrist will not only oppose God but will also attempt to change divine ordinances, moral laws, and spiritual truths. This mirrors today’s cultural climate where biblical standards are being redefined or removed entirely.
4. Signs of Lawlessness in the Last Days
The Apostle Paul describes the moral decay of the end times in detail:
2 Timothy 3:1–5 – “But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power…”
These characteristics perfectly align with lawlessness—living in rebellion to God while still appearing religious. Lawlessness is not only about violent crime or social disorder; it is a spiritual disease that infects the heart.
5. The Connection Between Lawlessness and Love Growing Cold
Jesus said in Matthew 24:12 that when lawlessness increases, the love of many will grow cold. Why? Because sin hardens the heart (Hebrews 3:13), making people insensitive to God and to others. As rebellion spreads, compassion and genuine care diminish. Self-interest replaces sacrificial love, and truth is compromised for personal comfort.
6. Lawlessness and Deception
A key feature of end-time lawlessness is deception. People will reject sound doctrine and embrace lies:
2 Thessalonians 2:10–12 – “…because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie…”
When truth is rejected, deception takes its place. Lawlessness thrives in a culture that denies God’s Word, making it easier for the Antichrist’s lies to be accepted.
7. God’s Standard Against Lawlessness
The opposite of lawlessness is obedience to God’s commands, motivated by love:
1 John 3:4 – “Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness.”
John 14:15 – “If you love Me, keep My commandments.”
The Word of God remains the only sure standard of truth and morality. In the midst of increasing rebellion, believers are called to be steadfast, holding firmly to Scripture and living holy lives.
8. The Danger for Believers
Even believers are not immune to the influence of lawlessness. Jesus warned in Matthew 7:23 that some will hear Him say, “I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!” These are people who may have appeared religious but lived in disobedience to God’s Word. This shows that outward religiosity without true obedience is still lawlessness.
9. How to Stand in a Lawless World
The Bible equips us to remain faithful in the last days:
● Stay rooted in God’s Word – Psalm 119:11 says, “Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.”
● Walk in the Spirit – Galatians 5:16: “Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.”
● Stay watchful in prayer – Luke 21:36: “Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things…”
● Love the truth – 2 Thessalonians 2:10: Only a love for truth can guard us from deception.
10. The End of Lawlessness
Though lawlessness will increase before Christ’s return, it will not have the final word. Jesus will destroy the lawless one at His coming:
2 Thessalonians 2:8 – “…whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming.”
The reign of rebellion will be short-lived. The Kingdom of Christ will prevail, and His law of righteousness will cover the earth (Isaiah 11:9).
Lawlessness in the last days is both a warning and a call to readiness. The Bible shows that this rebellion will be global, spiritual, and deeply deceptive. It is already at work, preparing the way for the Antichrist, and it will cause many to fall away from love and truth. But those who remain anchored in God’s Word, filled with the Spirit, and watchful in prayer will endure to the end.
As Jesus said in Matthew 24:13, “But he who endures to the end shall be saved.” The believer’s hope is not in the world getting better, but in the soon return of the Lord who will establish His reign of righteousness and put an end to all lawlessness.
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