I agree with you brozesnake, but I've always looked at Mt24:12 to be speaking of the churches love growing cold. I believe this vs is speaking of the condition of the church in the end times. Also the word love is agape, in this vs,the only way we even can have this kind of love is thru Jesus. That is why I come to this conclusion.
In Christ
Kathleen
Hello Kathleen.
I believe the verse speaks of the condition of the entire world, because the proceeding verses (below) describe worldwide conflicts and desolation, also look at...
Mat 24:9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.
This verse makes a distinction between Christians and those who would kill Christians. We will be hated and killed by the rest of the non-Christian world.
I believe we are seeing the begining of this hapening today. Islamic fundamentalists such as Bin Laden and many others have openly encouraged their followers to kill the infadels, and Christians are specifically listed. Also, Christianity is being attacked daily by athiestic groups and so called Christian groups, such as Christian homosexuals, who are lobbying the governments to make laws that would force Churches to marry them, and force Churches to stop preaching against homosexuality. Totally ignoring Christian freedom of religion. Can you imagine what would happen if the Muslims came under such attack?
Mat 24:6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all [these things] must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
Mat 24:7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
Mat 24:8 All these [are] the beginning of sorrows.
Mat 24:9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.
Mat 24:10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
Mat 24:11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
Mat 24:12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
Good talking with you.