What happens when lawlessness grows until violence begins to characterize a society?
Scripture gives us two sobering pictures that frame this episode.
In Genesis 6, before the judgment of the Flood, humanity had become deeply corrupted:
“Now the earth was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.” — Genesis 6:11
Jesus later pointed His disciples back to the days of Noah when describing the circumstances surrounding His coming. That raises an important question: Are we beginning to see patterns in our own generation that resemble the world Scripture describes before the Flood?
Then 2 Timothy 3:1–5 warns that “in the last days difficult times will come.” Paul describes a generation increasingly characterized by self-love, arrogance, disobedience to parents, ingratitude, lack of self-control, brutality, treachery, and a love of pleasure rather than a love of God.
In LAWLESSNESS ABOUNDS — Part 2: When Lawlessness Breeds Violence, we examine these biblical warnings alongside developments unfolding in our world today.
From abortion and the shedding of innocent blood, to teen takeovers and rebellion against authority, to attacks against women, the elderly, and Jewish people, we ask whether these events should be viewed merely as isolated social problems—or whether together they reflect the kind of moral deterioration Scripture warned would characterize the last days.
We also return to Dearborn, Michigan, examining recent headlines and the growing cultural and religious tensions within America. As Christianity and Islam increasingly encounter one another in the public square, we consider the deeper cultural and theological clash between two major world religions—religions with fundamentally different claims about God, Jesus Christ, Scripture, salvation, law, government, and the future of the world.
Could this growing encounter between Christianity and Islam become increasingly significant as we approach the end of the age? And how should Christians respond when competing religious worldviews begin shaping cultures, communities, governments, and nations?
Our attention then turns to the Middle East, including developments involving Syria and Turkey and reports and concerns surrounding Syria’s weapons capabilities and the possibility of nuclear weapons entering an already volatile region. As nations prepare for increasingly destructive forms of warfare, we consider Jesus’ warning concerning wars and rumors of wars and the broader prophetic picture Scripture gives concerning conflict at the end of the age.
Throughout the episode, we return to the central warning:LAWLESSNESS DOES NOT REMAIN LAWLESSNESS. WHEN RESTRAINT DISAPPEARS, VIOLENCE FOLLOWS.
Genesis describes an earth “filled with violence.”
Second Timothy describes the “last days” as increasingly dangerous and morally disordered.
And Jesus warned:“And because lawlessness is multiplied, most people’s love will grow cold.” — Matthew 24:12
Are these simply disconnected headlines—or are we witnessing pieces of a much larger biblical pattern?
Our purpose is not to sensationalize current events or create fear. It is to examine the evidence, compare the headlines with Scripture, and discern the times in which we are living.
Because although Scripture warns of lawlessness, violence, rebellion, persecution, and war, the biblical story does not end there.
Our hope is not in this present age. Our hope is in Jesus Christ and the coming Kingdom of God.
Subscribe and join us as we continue the LAWLESSNESS ABOUNDS series.
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