Why will iniquity abound during the end times?
Iniquity will abound because the Church, which presently restrains wickedness across the world, will be gone. Without that restraining influence, false prophets will rise, many will be deceived, and people will betray and hate one another, leading to widespread offense and iniquity during the end times.
Les explains that during the end times, the Church is gone, and today the Church is really the only break on wickedness across the world. Once that restraining presence is removed, iniquity will abound. He points to Matthew 24 where Jesus Himself describes the beginning of sorrows: the appearance of the Antichrist, a great invasion, tremendous loss of life—one-fourth of the world—along with pestilence and famine. Then comes the time of Jacob's trouble, predominantly God dealing with Israel though it will be worldwide. Believers will be delivered up, afflicted, killed, and hated of all nations. Many shall be offended, betray one another, and hate one another. False prophets shall rise and deceive many. Because the Church is no longer present as a break on wickedness, these conditions intensify and iniquity abounds.
And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
More Questions
Why will iniquity abound once the Church is gone?
The abounding iniquity in the last days is connected to the Church being gone, because the Church is the world's only restraint on wickedness.