(1Tm) The Love of the Majority

And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many [most] shall wax cold. (Matthew 24:12)

When persecution abounds, our love for Christ become white hot. Suffering causes us to cease from sin. It is "iniquity" (wickedness; lawlessness) that ruins professing Christians and their churches. Plenty to eat and drink, abundance of leisure time, the ready availability of sin, the social acceptance of godless living—these will pull down to destruction all but the strongest of the saints.

The most formidable foe facing the end-time churches is not persecution, although the anointed remnant shall be persecuted. The greatest enemy is self-centered, self-directed, pleasure-seeking lawlessness.

Some translators prefer, the love of "most people," or of the "majority." Here is the great "falling away," the worldwide apostasy, the defection from all authority, the coming revolt against God on the part of the majority of believers.

This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; (II Timothy 3:1-4)

Lawlessness will come to horrible fruition in the last days. Every sort of temptation will be dangled before the eyes of God’s people. If we are not living a dedicated, disciplined, overcoming life we will be led astray by the offer of easy, comfortable "Christian" living—a form of godliness that contains none of the Presence of the Holy Spirit of God.

Added to this temptation will be the threat of the loss of our ability to provide the necessary food, drink, and shelter for our families; although God, according to His promise, will take care of all the needs of those who look to Him.

I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. (Psalms 37:25)

Economic pressure will be brought on the believers by Antichrist as he wages war against the saints.

The ready access to easy living and sin combined with economic pressure and other persecution, will result in a separation between the true saints and the lukewarm, professing Christians. The lukewarm believer no longer will have fellowship with the saint who is willing to stand resolutely against the Antichrist spirit.

Multitudes of the Lord’s people are being led astray by the doctrine that states we can indulge in all the pleasures of the world and then reign with Christ at His appearing. Is this the ancient Gospel of the Kingdom of God? Do you feel any bloody nail prints in this doctrine? We do not. We believe in taking up our cross and following Christ, expecting the approval of God alone.

The individual who does not forsake all he possesses, does not take up His cross and follow the Master in patient obedience, is not a true Christian.

The Lord God gives us many good things to enjoy. But we are not "home" yet. We are strangers and pilgrims in the present world.

Is your love for Christ white hot? Or has an easy, comfortable way of life caused your zeal to become lukewarm? Are you ready to give your life in the service of Christ if He should so direct?

Let each of us take heed that the following Word of Christ does not apply to us:

I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. (Revelation 3:15,16)

We understand Laodicea to be the church that will be present during the days of Antichrist. As the pleasure-loving spirit begins to cover the land we need to be especially careful that we keep our love for Christ fervent and pure, that we do not allow the world spirit to seep into our soul. In this manner we can keep from being deceived by the Laodicean spirit.

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