The Lord has seemed so close for a couple of days now. This verse has been on my mind for at least a month now. I would like to know what you think about it. Read and comment.
Matthew 11
12 From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force.
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Jesus is understood to refer to the violent opposition encountered by ‘the kingdom of heaven’, already seen in the arrest and imprisonment of its herald (John the Baptist), and more ominously foreshadowed in the growing official opposition to Jesus himself. In the context of John’s question from prison this seems to make sense. So while John was the last of the old order, his fate was a foretaste of the conflicts which had already started to affect the new order. John falls into the category of an Old testament prophet. One need only read how all the prophets suffered violence to know that the citizens (who make up the kingdom of heaven and indeed are the kingdom) have suffered violence. Where is the suffering for the kigndom today? I have yet to see it?
Then who gets into the kingdom if it is not being taken violently in America? Are almost all lost?
Am I God? We are totally dependent upon grace. Violence may very well come sooner or later. I do not think violence is a prerequisite for entry since His grace is sufficient. More prayer and study is required to determine how the final words are to be interpreted. But since the rest of scripture clearly states that God’s grace is sufficient then no other requirements can be placed on entry into heaven. God dispenses His grace to whomever He pleases.
I love you, you stubborn son.
Dad
Your dad is funny and correct I feel like. God’s grace is all that even those who suffer violence have… without it there is nothing…