The Mystery Of Lawlessness

by FULLARTON, R. B. | Category: Opened Secrets | Oct 2005

General principle of lawlessness

In the Authorised Version of the Bible we have seven references to the word 'lawgiver', three of which relate to the Lord Jesus: (i) in the prophetic words of Jacob, the father/patriarch of the nation of Israel, concerning the tribe from which He would come (Gen.49:10); (ii) the future setting of His millennial reign on earth when He will exercise the roles of Judge, Lawgiver, King, and Saviour (Is.33:22; also Revised Version); (iii) in the matter of His prerogative to act as Lawgiver in the lives of His own (James 4:12; also R.V.). If He is the One who ordains laws that govern His creation and universe, and also His spiritual kingdom, it follows that He has every right to deal with every transgression and violation of those same laws.

At the same time we know there is a powerful adversary of God and man who is relentless in his pursuit of inducing people to flout and breach those laws constantly. He will stop at nothing to get his own way, whether by manipulation or murder or any other devious method (2 Thes.2:9,10; John 8:44). He has been at work a long time and will never give up until forcibly brought to a standstill (Rev.20:3,10).

Historical contexts

On the principle of 1 John 3:4 that sin is lawlessness, we look first at lawlessness in heaven, and on earth. The first act of lawlessness is to be found in the actions of the person referred to above; viz. Satan, under the figures of the prince and king of Tyre in Ezekiel 28:2-19, and the king of Babylon in Isaiah 14:11-17. He fought to elevate himself to a position far above his exalted station as a superior being in God's creation. His desire and effort to assume deity was a flagrant act of lawlessness (see Ezek.28:15) and he paid part of the price of his folly then, and will pay the full amount ultimately (v.19 and Rom.16:20). Those angelic beings who took his side suffered the fate of consignment to prison chambers to await final sentence (2 Pet.2:4). His influence upon the first woman on earth, in the location of the garden of Eden (Gen.3:1) was extensive; by distorting what God had specifically commanded he incited her and her husband to violate the first 'human' law, and the end result was their shame, silence, and a temporary 'separation' from their Creator, to say nothing of the eternal consequences of their unlawful act upon their progeny, possible permanent, everlasting separation from God and His Christ, through breaking that first 'law' (Gen.3; Rom.5:12,16,18).

Lawlessness in the 'ancient world' and two notorious cities

The next instance of the breaking out of rampant lawlessness is found in Genesis 6. The violent and unruly behaviour of men provoked the Lord to such righteous anger that He eventually sent His judgement, engulfing earth with a flood (1 Pet.3:20).

Today we are told violent crime and anti-social behaviour is on the increase, and has been this way particularly in the last two decades. Reports speak of 'drunken yobbery' turning town and city centres, not only in Britain, but elsewhere, into no-go areas. Fear is an everyday reality. Spin-obsessed governments promise policies and legislation that will be 'tough on crime and its causes', but such words ring hollow to many people who are at the sharp end of crime. In a Gallup Poll last year in the UK four out of five people interviewed expressed their opinion that moral values in the world had fallen significantly, and this was mainly attributable to the decreasing moral standards portrayed through television. Coarse and foul language, aggressive anti-social behaviour, and degrading sexual activities were dominating certain channels of television, and society was the worse for it.

The next major biblically recorded incident of lawlessness is in the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, where the deeds of the inhabitants are described as very grievous and lawless (Gen.18:20, RV; 2 Pet.2:8). There were not even ten righteous people in Sodom (Gen.18:32). The lawlessness related principally to sexual immorality of the grossest nature. The vile passions of the men of Sodom could not be curbed (Gen.19:5,9). It would appear there was no rule of law there, the men of Sodom acted with impunity.

In recent years in many lands, particularly in the western hemisphere, there has been the erosion of traditional family life, rapidly rising divorce rates, an increase in the number of those who opt for a one-parent-family lifestyle, with statistics showing more likelihood of criminal offending coming from such parts of society. There has also been the explosion of gay rights issues and schemes of political correctness that favour homosexual couples over heterosexual families. As a result, there is a reign of confusion in the minds of many people and especially children. Gay adoption became legal in England in October 2003 and children living with homosexual couples are being instructed to call them 'mummy' and 'daddy'. We have some social reformers and libertarians ambitious to reconstruct society on immoral standards. Such behaviour ultimately evokes the response of judgement from a just yet merciful God who loves the sinner, but hates the sin, just as He�instructs us to do (Rom.1:18,26,27; 2:2-5).

The iniquitous cities of the plain were reduced to smouldering embers and their inhabitants, with the exception of Lot and his family, perished (Gen.19:28,29). The sin of the cities of the plain was open and blatant, inviting summary retribution (cp. Is.3:9).

Thirdly, we come to sin at Calvary, the greatest act of lawlessness ever to take place. This was the climax of this world's utter disregard and contempt for its Creator and Saviour, when contrary to all reason and evidence, men put to death the sinless Man, the Son of God, by that horrendously cruel form of execution - crucifixion - a lingering and excruciatingly painful way to die. Israel as a nation was charged with guiltiness - that they 'have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death' (Acts 2:23). Yet God's mercy is extended to the sinner despite the worst lawless act ever witnessed, through the way of repentance (Acts 2:23,38-40).

The prevalence of lawlessness in the world

The working of evil in the world has ever brought some form of response by way of judgement from God's hand (Rom.2:9; cf. 1:27). There has to be the existence of 'law' in the world to deal with its transgression. Yet no matter what the sin or transgression, God can forgive (1 Tim.1:9,10; Rom.4:7). Iniquity (more to do with actions that are depraved and perverse), transgression (revolt against law/s), and sin (offences of every kind) affect not only individuals, but families, cities and nations. The whole world is under judgement as a result (Is.26:21; Ex.34:7; 1 Sam.3:14; Gen.15:16; 19:15; Rom.3:19). As time goes on lawlessness increases, which can cause not only despair, even in the lives of God's own, but bring about the sad decline of love for the Lord (Mat.24:12). However, the antidote to that attitude is the exercise of 'our faith' which triumphs over every kind of adversity we may come across in the world (1 John 5:4).

Future 'happenings' in a world of lawlessness

The 'mysteries' of Scripture are essentially, as explained in the first article of this series, what God now reveals concerning certain subjects that previously have been concealed from human knowledge. We are not to be ignorant of them (e.g. Rom.11:25; 16:25; cf. 1 Cor.15:51). They are still hidden from the world, of course, being only perceived by faith's eye. The insidious tide of rising lawlessness will reach tsunami proportions when the 'man of lawlessness' arrives on the world stage shortly after believers of the present dispensation of grace have been called home to be with the Lord (1 Thes.4:13-17). A fairly full account of his personality and activities is outlined in 2 Thessalonians 2:3-11 (see also Dan.7:25; 11:36-43). He is called 'the son of perdition', for that is where he is heading and where he seeks to lead men and women. There will already have been a marked declension in the fear of God in people's lives generally, termed as a 'falling away'. The spirit of lawlessness that will govern him is already operating in our planet (1 John 4:3) and has been doing so for some considerable time. He will attempt to present himself as the one and only true living God and command worship. The world generally will be fooled by his demonic powers and sinister schemes. Restraint on the full-blown explosion of evil is only harnessed by the work of the divine Spirit in the lives of God's children until that time when they are 'taken home' at the 'Rapture'. The 'lawless one's' reign will be short-lived however. He will be slain by a breath from the mouth of the Son of God. Soon after, the Lord Jesus will be enthroned in Jerusalem and His millennium of peace will be ushered in, and praise and glory shall be His who magnified the law of God on earth and never broke it at any time.

The Millennium and the 'Eternal State'

Lawlessness will arise again during, and at the conclusion of, the earthly one thousand year reign of the Lord Jesus, but the uprising of revolt and rebellion against earth's righteous Sovereign will soon be quelled (Is.65:20; Rev.20:7-10). Then, in the final and eternal era of all God's dealings with His creatures of humanity, lawlessness will be forever banished and the righteous edicts of the eternal Lawgiver will prevail (2 Pet.3:13; Rev.21:27).

FULLARTON, R. B. | Oct 2005
Opened Secrets