PRÉCIS ON THE SPIRITUAL VIOLENCE OF HEAVEN RIGHTLY WIELDED AGAINST THE VIOLENCE OF HELL’S DARK FIRE

SCRIPTURE. “From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violent assault, and violent men seize it by force [as a precious prize].” – MATTHEW 11:12, AMP

KEY TERMS:

• “VIOLENT ASSAULT.” ‘Biazó’ [βιάζεται]: “‘To forcibly crowd oneself into; to be seized!’ to suffer violence; to coerce.” NOTE: The verb ‘biazó’primarily conveys the idea of applying force or exerting pressure. In the New Testament, it is used metaphorically to describe the earnest and sometimes forceful pursuit of the kingdom of God. It implies a sense of urgency and determination in seeking spiritual matters.”                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

• “BY FORCE.” ‘Harpazó’ [ἁρπάζουσιν]: “‘To violently seize or catch away;’ to pluck or pull up forcibly; to snatch by robbery; from a root term, ‘to take for oneself.’” NOTE: “The Greek verb ‘harpazó’ conveys the idea of seizing or snatching away with force or suddenness. It is often used in contexts where something is taken quickly or forcefully, sometimes implying a rescue or deliverance. In the New Testament, it is frequently associated with divine intervention or the power of God. [as with the ‘Catching up’ of the Church at the Rapture; cf. 1 Thessalonians 4:17].”

QUOTATION. “This world is a Military Expedition, an Eternal Combat. No doubt all chose who fought courageously in a battle are worthy of praise, but also there is no doubt that ‘the greatest glory goes to the one who returns wounded.’” ― JOSEPH DE MAISTRE, St Petersburg Dialogues: Or Conversations on the Temporal Government of Providence, 1821; edited

COMMENTARY. “‘And from the days of John the Baptist’ — That is, from the time he had borne his public testimony to the approach of the Messiah, or from the time when he had fulfilled his ministry, ‘the kingdom of heaven’ — The dispensation which admits all persons equally, upon their repentance and faith, ‘suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force!’ — The spirits of men are so excited and animated by a desire after this kingdom, that it is, as it were, attacked like a besieged city, men of all sorts pressing to get into it, with a violence like that of men who are taking a place by storm.

As if He [Jesus] had said, ‘Multitudes are flocking around Me, to be instructed in the nature of My Kingdom; and some, who were formerly of most licentious characters, and looked upon as utterly unfit to be subjects of the Messiah’s Kingdom, are resolutely set on enjoying the blessings of it.’ ‘He that hath ears to hear, let him hear’ — A kind of proverbial expression, requiring the deepest attention to what is spoken.” – JOSEPH BENSON, Notes on the Holy Bible, 5 vols., 1811-1818; edited

DK’S TAKE. I am increasingly of the conviction that the great majority of the American Church has constructed a Gospel of Pacifism, wherein the believer is repeatedly lulled to Spiritual Slumber by A LIE:

‘All is already accomplished by Jesus Christ. Therefore, nothing more than simple belief is required. All you simply need to do is be lavishly and frequently praised and reassured that you are loved and will go to Heaven at The End, no matter what.’

There simply must be a ‘Come to Jesus Moment’ throughout the entire Evangelical Community in America as a shocking Wakeup Call to Spiritual Arms. ‘This is War, beloved!’ Not a Sunday afternoon picnic or sweet little potluck that so many of our Pastors have nurtured.

Perhaps the words of DIETRICH BONHOEFFER will lead us back.

“COSTLY GRACE!”  “Costly Grace is the Gospel which must be sought again and again and again, the Gift which must be asked for, the Door at which a man must knock. Such Grace is Costly because it calls us to follow, and it is Grace because it calls us to follow Jesus Christ. ‘It is Costly because it costs a man his life!’ And it is Grace because it gives a man the only True Life. It is Costly because it condemns sin, and Grace because it justifies the sinner.‘Above all, it is Costly because it cost God the life of His Son:“Ye were bought at a price,” and what has cost God much cannot be cheap for us.’– The Cost of Discipleship, 1937; edited

Oh, beloved, would that the American Christian would revel, I mean, revel in that High Calling! We could see everything change toward the Ways of God rather than the Ways of the Anti-God. But such zeal is rare, and I fear that God’s Fury shall have to accomplish what He’d rather have done by Gentleness.