The Love of Many Will Grow Cold As Wickedness of the Heart Increases
Bible Study Guide (Olivet Discourse – End Times Series)
The “love of many will grow cold” is an encompassing phrase that points to several aspects of the last days and hours of this current age. It’s one of many characteristics leading many to question our world today.
People are asking, “What in the world is going on?” Why are all these things occurring around the world? This is just not normal! Something is not right! Something is about to happen! I don’t know what, but I can sense it!
These are questions and statements that are playing an ever more frequent role in the language of everyday people. It’s in the hearts and minds of people like never before in history.
A Rise In the Persecution of Believers
(Verse 9) This diminishing love that is growing ever more absent is evident in the rise of antisemitism. The global hate for God’s chosen people is unprecedented. It has never risen to these levels in the history of the Jewish people.
But what did God say would happen about this in the last days?
“On that day, when all the nations of the earth are gathered against her, I will make Jerusalem an immovable rock for all the nations. All who try to move it will injure themselves.” (Zechariah 12:3)
Today, Israel is a burdensome stone to all nations like never before. All the nations are raging against the Jews. This has quickly evolved towards the persecution of Zionist. And eventually will be a full blown persecution against Christians.
They all have one thing in common. They all oppose God. This is Satan’s last stand against God before the return of Christ.
“Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me.” (Matthew 24:9)
Jesus warns His followers that they will face intense persecution and even martyrdom. This persecution will be global (“hated by all nations”) and tied specifically to allegiance to Christ (“because of me”). It aligns with the end-time suffering described in Revelation and other prophetic scriptures (Daniel 7:25, Revelation 6:9–11).
Persecution will reach its climax at the beginning of the Great Tribulation. This will occur when the Antichrist takes his stand in the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem midway through the seven year Tribulation. At that time, he’ll end Jewish rituals, declare himself to be God and demand to be worshiped.
We’ll break this down more in upcoming verses.
What Does Apostasy Mean?
(Verse 10-11) Apostasy is derived from the Greek word “apostasia.” Which means “ a falling away from the faith.”
“At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, 11 and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people.” (Matthew 24:10-11)
Betrayal and hatred among supposed believers suggests relational breakdowns within the Church especially among leadership and false teachers. This will result as the love of many will grow cold. This echoes 2 Thessalonians 2:3, which speaks of a “great falling away” before the return of Christ.
“For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 23 So be on your guard; I have told you everything ahead of time.” (Mark 13:22-23)
Jesus is clearly pointing to the fallout of His initial warnings. Watch not to be spiritually deceived. Those claiming to be false Messiahs will lead people astray and away from Christ.
Today, many are leaving their churches as they sense through discernment that their church is teaching a false gospel. A gospel more aligned with world views and not of God’s. Unfortunately, many don’t know where to turn which could also lead to a further falling away from Christ.
A flood of spiritual deception will mark the end times. These false teachers or influencer’s will lead “many” astray, not just a fringe group. This underscores the need for discernment and grounding in Scripture.
“The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.” (1 Timothy 4:1)
“But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.” (2 Peter 2:1)
The Love of Many Will Grow Cold With the Increase in Wickedness
(Verse 12)
“Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold,” (Matthew 24:12)
Increase in the wickedness of the heart refers to societal moral decay and lawlessness becoming widespread. It’s blatantly evident today. Lawlessness is festering at all levels of so-called justice.
This directly causes “the love of many” to grow cold. This love is referring to agape love. The godly love among believers. The selfless God-centered love. The erosion of love even among Christians who have been spiritually deceived is a chilling marker of spiritual decay.
What’s the Significance of the Rapture and the Rise of Love Growing Cold?
The biblical significance of “the love of many will grow cold” becomes even more profound when considered alongside the rapture and the removal of Christians and the Holy Spirit’s restraining influence. Together, they depict a world in spiritual and moral freefall in the time leading up to Christ’s return (Second Coming).
Prior to the Tribulation and the trigger event that will begin the Tribulation will be the rapture and removal of the Church.
“Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them… to meet the Lord in the air.” (1 Thessalonians 4:17)
“And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” (John 14:3)
What Will Be the Impact On Those Who Remain?
There will be a weighty loss of moral restraint across the globe. With the Church (believers in Christ) gone, the main salt and light of the world is removed.
“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:13-16)
In his letter on the end times to the Thessalonians, Paul describes the Holy Spirit as “the restrainer”, who holds back the rise of lawlessness who’s connected to the Antichrist. When the restrainer is removed, evil will escalate unchecked.
“And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time. 7 For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way.” (2 Thessalonians 2:6-7)
Rapid Loss of Love & Widespread Spiritual Deception
Without the witnesses of Christ, prayers, and compassion of believers, the world becomes colder, darker, more violent. Social collapse, betrayal, hatred, and deception flourish — exactly as Jesus predicted in His Olivet Discourse teaching.
Without the indwelling Spirit convicting hearts, people will be severely vulnerable to false prophets and delusions.
“The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie, 10 and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11 For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie 12 and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.” (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12)
Many will follow a false peace which will be led by the Antichrist, but ultimately end in destruction (Revelation 13).
There will be increased persecution for those who come to faith after the rapture and in the Tribulation. People who turn to Christ during then (Revelation 7:14) will be heavily persecuted. Love for Christ may bloom in individual hearts, but the global atmosphere will be hostile to godly love and truth.
How Can We Avoid Spiritual Deception?
The love of many will grow cold in these last days and hours. We must heed Jesus’ warnings about what’s to come. The Bible also teaches us how to avoid falling for these false teachers and their false gospel.
“Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.” (1 John 4:1-3)
Paul echoes this theme in his first letter to the Thessalonians. He teaches the Jews of Thessalonica to be like the Berean’s who test God’s word against scripture to prove its truthfulness.
We ought always be testing what is being preached to us. Knowing God’s word and His plan for us can lead us to avoid rampant spiritual deception.
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