Spirit of Lawlessness

Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it legitimately (1 Tim. 1:8).

The people who know their God will live victoriously in the days ahead. Darkness as black as night covers all the nations of the earth. We see and hear of wars and rumors of wars, nation rising against nation, earthquakes, tornadoes, severe weather threats, political upheaval, lawlessness (state of disorder due to a disregard of the law) in many nations.

Though darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, the glory of the Lord will rise among His righteous ones (Isa. 60:2). Our position in Christ is to be a godly example to other nations. The birth pains have intensified as the end draws near. All creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the current time (Rom. 8:28).

Apostle Paul warned that in the latter days a spirit of lawlessness would prevail in the entire world. Lawlessness, rebellion and violence have now become the spirit of the age. It has penetrated into every realm of human thinking. Good is seen as evil, and evil good. Lawlessness is the spirit of the times.

Never in the history of the world have we seen such a rejection of moral restraint. Things that a generation ago were considered shocking are now accepted as commonplace. All of the Christian social barriers and moral restraints have been broken down. People have little or no restraint. They refuse to be controlled. They insist on setting their own standards.

Human thoughts are futile. People don’t know what to do when they don’t know or accept the truth of God’s Word. So, every person does what is right in their own eyes. Having moral standards is seen as taking away a person’s rights. God is love! He will never take away your right to choose righteousness over unrighteousness, light over darkness. His hope is that you would choose righteousness.

God anger is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness. God’s wrath is consistent with His love for humanity. All His indignation is righteous. A reaction to moral evil. This is what the Lord says about choosing unrighteousness:

“And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them over to an unfit mind and to do things that should not be done. They were filled with every kind of injustice, evil, covetousness, malice. Full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, craftiness, they are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, rebellious toward parents, ³¹foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. They know God’s decree, that those who practice such things deserve to die, yet they not only do them but even applaud others who practice them” (Rom, 1:28-32).

What is the spirit of lawlessness?

We are told that this spirit of lawlessness is the spirit of the antichrist. The new Testament even warns that this spirit will invade the church and that the church must constantly be on her guard. The spirit of lawlessness is everywhere. In the home, in the church, in our school systems, and in the work force. The truth is the issue in the United States at this moment is not political. It is spiritual.

As the church goes, so goes the world! If the watchmen sleep, the enemy takes the city!

Leonard Ravenhill, Why Revival Tarries, 1959, 1987

God is not surprised at what’s happening in the world today. Human existence is futile (Ps. 89:47). Sin is futile because it achieves nothing (Jer. 13:10). God wants to deliver people from their futile ways. There is only one answer to the many problems that beset the world and that is Jesus Christ (Luke 4:18).

Shalom,